prognostic value of interleukin-6 [IL-6] and C-Reactive protein [CRP] in non-hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL]

ABSTRACT

The prognostic value of two simple serum markers [IL-6 and CRP] was prospectively studied in 40 newly diagnosed patients with non- Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with standard CHOP or CVP chemotherapy regimen for high and intermediate grade or low grade, respectively, who fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the study. In addition, 20 healthy volunteers served as a control group were included in this study. The significance of these markers was compared with other known prognostic indicators by the statistical analysis. The study revealed a strong correlation between IL-6 and CRP in NHL patients as regards the response and prognostic factors. In unvaried analysis, the age, stage, tumor mass, pretreatment serum albumin, LDH, IL-6 and CRP levels were found to have an influence on the remission rate; where IL-6 and CRP were decreased to a normal level in patients who underwent a complete response [IL-6 mean +/- SD = 7.6 +/- 2.3, CRP mean +/- SD = 6.1 +/- 2.80] and increased in relapsed patients [IL-6 mean +/- SD = 34 +/- 8.9, CRP mean +/- SD = 36 +/- 13.21]. However, in the regression analysis to the results of 33 cases with high and intermediate grade, the pre-treatment IL-6 and CRP levels were the only predictors for remission