Klin Onkol 2003; 16(1): 19-23.
Summary:
Backgrounds: Cytokines play an important role in regulation of production and the functions of immune systems and other cells as well. They also regulate the immune system balance. In pathological conditions the cytokine levels change.
Design and subjects: The aim of our study was to investigate the relations among cytokine concentrations and other disease activity markers in several malignant hematological diseases. The cytokine levels were studied during treatment response and exploited for risk assessment of disease complications. Patients: 265 multiple myelomas (MM), 81 polycytemia vera (PV), 23 primary osteomyelofibrosis (OMF) and 45 leukemias (AML, ALL, CML).
Methods and results: The following cytokine concentrations were followed in patients sera: TNF, soluble TNF receptors, p55 and p75, IL-6 and TgF-β1 and compared also with CRP and β2-microglobulin (β2m) levels. In MM patients stage II and III significant increase of TNF, TNF soluble receptors and β2m was observed. A linear correlation between TNF receptors, β2m concentrations and the tumorous mass was observed as well. After treatment and remission achievement cytokine levels in stage III significantly decreased. A significant increase of IL-6, CRP and TgF-β1 also correlated with disease activity. No correlations of these parameters with the tumorous mass were found. An increased CRP level (above 10 000 ng/ml) reflected osseous, cardiogenic, renal or infectious complications.
Untreated PV and OMF patients manifested increased TgF-β1, IL-6 and CRP levels, which in remission significantly dropped. Increase of these parameters in posttransplant period leukemia patients reflected GvH (graft versus host) reaction or infection.
Conclusions: Monitoring of proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines can be helpful for prognostic and therapeutic controls of malignant haematologic diseases.
