Circulating CD44 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels in low gradenon-Hodgkin lymphoma and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients during interferon-alpha-2a treatment

BACKGROUND. Despite published reports regarding the association of elevated circulating CD44 and CD54 levels with unfavorable outcome in non-Hodgkin l ymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), little is known about therapy-related changes in either adhesion molecule. In an attempt to eval uate the effect of interferon-alpha (IFN alpha), the authors measured serum CD44 (sCD44) and sCD54 in 22 low grade NHL and 14 CU. patients. METHODS, Twenty-six patients fulfilling the criteria for therapy received d aily doses of 3 x 10(6) IU IFN alpha-2a. Ten patients not requiring therapy also were observed for the same period. Fasting sera were collected at bas eline and in 4 monthly intervals from all patients including the IFN alpha- treated (Group I) and the untreated group (Group 2). RESULTS. Higher baseline sCD44 values were observed in Group 1 as compared with the Group 2 patients (P = 0.057). Within Group 1, patients were furthe r divided between those who responded to IFN alpha, referred to as responde rs, and those who did not respond to IFN alpha, known as nonresponders. Res ponders showed a gradual decrease in sCD44 starting at the 4th month until the 12th month (P = 0.003, P = 0.002, and P = 0.01). Neither a difference i n baseline nor an IFN alpha effect on the sCD54 levels could be shown. Solu ble CD44 levels between responders and nonresponders were not different at the baseline but were significantly lower in responders, starting at month 4 and continuing throughout the therapy period (P = 0.04, P = 0.017, and P = 0.043). This decrease did not accompany a leukocyte or lactate dehydrogen ase decrease and was not correlated with an early disappearance of the clin ical findings. Similarly, after treatment, the sCD44 vaIues of Group I were lower than the Group 2 levels at months 4 and 8 (P = 0.007 and P = 0.05, r espectively). CONCLUSIONS, soluble CD44, but not sCD54, can be used for monitoring therap y in patients with low grade NHL and CLL who have received IFN alpha, and f or deciding whether further IFN therapy is necessary for those patients who have not responded to IFN alpha over a previous 12-month period. Cancer 20 00;89:1474-81. (C) 2000 American Cancer Society.