Elevated serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels increase malignancy-related risk in patients on chronic...

Patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) have an increased incidence of malignancy due to decreased immunity. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), as an immunomodulator, seemed to have an effect in the process of malignancy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of increased sIL-2R in the course of malignancy among HD patients.

Patients who undergoing chronic hemodialysis were followed for 24 months. Risk factors for malignancy events and malignancy-related mortality during the 2-year follow-up period were investigated among various clinicopathological variables.

Of the 363 patients included in this research, 47 patients (12.95%) had a prior history of treated malignancy. During the 2-year follow-up period, malignancy events were detected in 15 (4.12%) patients. Sixty-seven patients died during the study period, of which nine patients (13.43%) were died of malignancy. Malignancy events reduced 2-year mortality significantly (log-rank = 23.02, P < 0.0001). Both high sIL-2R levels ( ≥ 2-fold upper limit of the normal value) (OR 6.6, P = 0.006) and a prior history of treated malignancy (OR 4.12, P = 0.018)were identified by multivariate logistic analysis as independent determinants for malignancy events. However, only the levels of sIL-2R (used as a continuous variable) had the significantly predictive effect on malignancy events and malignancy-related mortality in the following 2 years.

Elevated sIL-2R levels was commonly seen in serum of HD patients. And this elevated level increased the risk of malignancy. Aside from its role as a biomarker, sIL-2R may also exert biological effects in the course of malignancy.