Serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor α correlates with the clinical course and activity of Wilms’ tumour and soft tissue sarcomas in children

Abstract

Wilms’ tumour (WT) and soft tissue sarcomas (SA) in children lack reliable biochemical markers. This study was carried out to determine the clinical significance of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor α (sIL-2Rα) in the diagnostics and treatment monitoring of children with WT and SA. The study included 48 children: ten with WT, eight with SA and 30 healthy controls. The sIL-2Rα levels (ELISA) and rates of elevated sIL-2Rα values were estimated prospectively at diagnosis and in complete remission during treatment and after therapy. As the dependence on age was determined, the levels of sIL-2Rα were expressed as multiplications of the upper value of the normal range for a particular age (xN). Median pretreatment levels of sIL-2Rα in patients exceeded those of healthy controls (1.79 xN for WT and 1.53 for SA vs. 0.61 for controls; p<0.001) as did the rates of elevated sIL-2Rα values (80% of WT and 87.5% of SA patients vs. 0% of controls). Good response to therapy was paralleled by a significant decline of pretreatment sIL-2Rα levels and its elevated rates. Thus, sIL-2Rα determination may be of some value in the diagnostics and treatment monitoring of childhood WT and SA.