INTERLEUKIN-7, INTERLEUKIN-8, SOLUBLE TNF RECEPTOR, AND P53 PROTEIN-LEVELS ARE ELEVATED IN THE SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH HODGKINS-DISEASE

In a search for specific serum markers with prognostic impact, we eval uated the clinical significance of IL-4, IL-7, and IL-8 as well as TNF receptor levels and soluble p53 in the serum of patients with untreat ed Hodgkin's lymphoma (HD). No elevations were observed for IL-4, whil e IL-7 and IL-8 were elevated in 15/52 (29%) and 21/78 (27%) patients, respectively. Soluble TNF receptors were detected in 16/29 patients ( 55%), and were significantly elevated in 6 (21%). P53 was detected in 21/33 (64%) patients. While IL-7 levels, detectable sTNF receptors, an d p53 were not correlated with other obvious parameters, elevated IL-8 levels were associated with the presence of B symptoms (p < 0.002) an d occurred more often in the nodular sclerosis form than in other hist ological subtypes (p < 0.02). Further investigations that correlate th ese serum parameters with the situation at the cellular level of an in volved tissue will help to elucidate the enigmatic biology of HD.