SERUM INTERLEUKIN-6 LEVELS CORRELATE WITH PROGNOSIS IN DIFFUSE LARGE-CELL LYMPHOMA

Abstract

PURPOSE: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that may have pathogenetic and prognostic significance in a number of disorders. The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between serum IL-6 levels and phenotypic characteristics, as well as outcome of patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLCL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; lower limit of sensitivity, 0.35 pg/mL), we measured IL-6 levels in frozen sera from 33 healthy controls and 58 untreated patients with DLCL who were enrolled onto a single combination chemotherapy protocol. Serum IL-6 levels were correlated with clinical and laboratory features at diagno..