Assessment of measuring circulating levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, C-reactive protein, soluble Fc gamma receptor type III, and mannose-binding protein in febrile children with cancer and neutropenia

Circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, soluble Fc gamma receptor t ype III (sFc gamma RIII), mannose-binding protein (MBP), and C-reactive pro tein (CrP) were assessed among febrile children with cancer and neutropenia . Levels of IL-6, IL-8, sFc gamma RIII, MBP, and CrP were measured in serum from 56 pediatric cancer patients at the time of admission for 121 episode s of febrile neutropenia (88 febrile episodes without identifiable source, 5 clinically documented infections, 20 episodes of bacteremia due to gram-p ositive and 5 due to gram-negative organisms, and 3 fungal infections). IL- 6 and IL-8 levels were higher in patients with either bacteremia due to gra m-negative organisms or fungal infections than in patients with febrile epi sodes without an identifiable source (P < .00001 for each). IL-6 and IL-8 l evels were higher in children with bacteremia due to gram-negative organism s than in those with bacteremia due to gram-positive organisms (P = .0011 a nd P = .0003, respectively). The measured levels of CrP, MBP, and sFc gamma RIII were not useful for identifying the type of infection. These prelimin ary results show the potential usefulness of IL-6 and IL-8 as early indicat ors for life-threatening infections in febrile cancer patients with neutrop enia.