Serum CD44 levels preceding the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Serum CD44 (s-CDL44) concentrations were measured in sera taken from 49 ind ividuals who were diagnosed with non Hodgkin's lymphoma 0.9 to 7.2 years af ter taking the blood sample, and from 49 controls matched for age. The seru m samples had been collected in conjunction of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-C arotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) study, which evaluated the influence of vi tamin supplementation on cancer prevention. S-CD44 was measured using chemi luminescence enzyme immunoassay. S-CD44 concentrations of the cases were si gnificantly elevated before the diagnosis of lymphoma when compared to the serum levels found in the controls (median, 447 ng/mL; range, 108-780 ng/mL vs. median, 364 ng/mL; range, 53-660 ng/mL; p=0.012). Individuals who were later diagnosed with high grade lymphoma according to the Kiel classificat ion (n=21) had significantly higher values than the controls 0.9-4.0 years before the diagnosis, but such a difference could not be detected if serum samples had been taken more than 4 years before the diagnosis. The s-CD44 l evels were not significantly elevated among individuals who were later diag nosed with low grade malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n=25) as compared to their controls. The prediagnostic s-CD44 levels in cases and controls over lapped markedly, and a value higher than the highest value found among the controls; (660 ng/mL) was found only in 5 (10%) samples taken from individu als who were later diagnosed with lymphoma. We conclude that serum CD44 may be elevated a few years preceding the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but the levels overlap markedly with those found in individuals without ly mphoma.