Alterated cytokine secretion may play a role in determining Hodgkin's disease-related immunosuppression. The aim of this study
was to analyze the clinical significance of interleukin-10(IL-10) serum levels in 73 chemotherapy-naive patients with Hodgkin's
disease. We evaluated the relationship between pretreatment circulating values of IL-10 and both the clinical characteristics
of the disease as well as the prognosis in terms ofreedom from progression and overall survival. Abnormally high pre-treatment
serum levels (mean±standard error: 26.79±13.24 pg/ml) were detected in 33/73 (45%) patients. The percentage of patients with
enhanced IL-10 secretion was significantly higher in the presence of advanced disease (56% vs 32%,
P<0.03), systemic symptoms (57%
vs 34%,
P<0.04) and more than 3 involved sites (61%
vs 36%,
P<0.03).
The high basal levels of IL-10 negatively influenced long-term results: at 8-years freedom from progression (FFP) and overall
survival (OS) for patients with IL-10>6 pg/mlvs≤6 pg/ml were 69% and 76%vs 97.5% and 95%, respectively. The multivariate analysis confirmed the prognostic value of IL-10 basal serum levels (FFP,P=0.0001; OS,P=0.06). Our study suggests that high pre-treatment circulating levels of IL-10 are associated with a poor prognosis, irrespective
of other common prognostic variables.
Keywords citokines - IL-10 - Hodgkin's disease - malignant lymphomas - outcome