SERUM INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR LEVELS IN HODGKIN DISEASE AND OTHER SOLID TUMORS OF CHILDHOOD

Serum levels of interleukin-2 receptor (IL2R) were determined in child ren with newly diagnosed Hodgkin disease (n = 68), Wilms tumor (n = 20 ), osteosarcoma (n = 18), rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 18), or Ewing sarcoma (n = 15). Measurements of soluble IL2R were positively correlated with disease stage in Hodgkin disease but not in other tumors. Very high l evels of soluble IL2R (greater-than-or-equal-to 5000 U/ml) were signif icantly associated with a poorer treatment outcome in Hodgkin disease (p = 0.006) and retained significance in a multivariate analysis (p = 0.03). The addition of soluble IL2R measurements to existing prognosti c models may improve risk assignment in children with Hodgkin disease.