Evaluation of some biochemical markers as prognostic factors in malignant lymphomas

This study aimed to estimate the pre- and post-treatment serum levels of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), soluble p55 tumor necrosis factor receptor (sp55TNF-R) and soluble L-selectin in order to evaluate their prognostic significance and their role in monitoring tumor growth and host-tumor response in malignant lymphomas. Also, the work aimed to investigate the relationship between these levels with B symptoms and disease stage. For this purpose, 43 newly diagnosed patients with malignant lymphoma (12 with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 31 with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were selected from Mansoura University Hospital. Among NHL patients, 7 were in stage I/II, 13 in stage III and 14 in stage IV. In addition, 10 NHL patients were presented with B symptoms while, 21 did not. 7 apparently healthy individuals were selected as a control reference group.

1-Pre-treatment levels of GAGs, sp55TNF-R and sL-selectin increased significantly in both HD and NHL before treatment as compared to control. Pre-treatment sp55TNF-R levels in both diseases and sL-selectin (only in HD patients) may have a significant value in predicting response to therapy, while GAGs level in both diseases and sL-selectin in NHL patients had a limited value in such prediction. 2- In contrast to sp55TNF-R and sL-selectin, post-treatment GAG levels are thought to be a good sign of remission in both HD and NHL. 3- Serum GAG levels increased significantly before treatment in stages III/IV NHL as compared to stage I/II, so serum GAGs at diagnosis could reflect tumor bulk and the disease activity. 4- Elevated serum sp55TNF-R before treatment was associated with the presence of B symptoms and such association lead to a worse prognosis.

Pre-treatment sp55TNF-R levels in both HD & NHL and sL-selectin (only in HD patients) could be used as prognostic factor with respect to predicting treatment outcome. Serum GAGs at diagnosis could reflect tumor bulk and the disease activity.