SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR-ALPHA IS ELEVATED IN SERA OF PATIENTS WITH BENIGN OVARIAN NEOPLASMS AND EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CANCER

Background. Previous studies have established that soluble interleukin -2 receptor alpha (sIL-2R alpha) levels are elevated in ascites and se ra from individuals with advanced ovarian cancer (International Federa tion of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] Stage III/IV). This study was undertaken to evaluate sIL-2R alpha levels in individuals with benign ovarian neoplasms and early stage ovarian cancer (FIGO Stage I/II). C omparison with CA 125 levels was performed to assess screening potenti al. Methods. Sera from 92 healthy individuals, 61 with benign adnexal masses, 12 patients with FIGO Stage I/II ovarian cancers, and 27 patie nts with FIGO Stage III/IV ovarian cancers were assayed for sIL-2R alp ha by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and CA 125 by radioimmunoassay . Results, The mean serum sIL-2R alpha levels for benign pelvic masses , and Stage I/II and Stage III/IV epithelial ovarian cancer were 1507 +/- 82, 1631 +/- 274, and 2596 +/- 384 U/ml, respectively. The differe nce between mean serum sIL-aR alpha levels in individuals with benign adnexal masses and Stage III/IV epithelial ovarian cancer was statisti cally significant (P < 0.05). In addition, of the four individuals wit h FIGO Stage I/II ovarian cancer who had CA125 levels below 35 U/ml, t he accepted upper limit of normal, three patients had elevated serum s IL-2R alpha levels. Eleven of 12 patients (92%) with potentially curab le Stage I/II disease had elevated serum levels of either sIL-2R alpha or CA125 and 8 of 12 (67%) had elevations of bath sIL-2R alpha and CA 125. Sensitivity and specificity of a combination of CA 125 and solubl e IL-2R alpha were 88.5% and 27.1%, respectively. Conclusion. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha levels do not appear to differentiate bet ween benign adnexal lesions and early malignancy; however, measurement of sIL-2R alpha levels in combination with CA125 warrants further eva luation to determine if together they will identify individuals with S tages I and II ovarian cancer.