Tumor necrosis factor and soluble interleukin-2 receptor: two immunological biomarkers in female neoplasms

In this study we have evaluated two new immunological parameters, soluble IL-2 receptor (s IL-2 R) and TNF, in 119 patients with female solid neoplasms (47 ovarian and 72 breast cancer). Our data demonstrate that both these markers have mean serum levels in cancer patients higher than in normal population, particularly in ovarian cases. Also the overall positivities were higher in ovarian (68%) than in breast cancer (51%). Finally we observed no relevant differences according to the status of disease in both groups of cancer patients. These preliminary results could suggest the possible usefulness of an immunological monitoring in cancer patients, above all when an immunotherapy with biological responder modifiers is proposed.