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BMC Cancer

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Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Increased serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor is associated with a worse response of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma to interferon alpha and sequential VEGF-targeting therapy

Authors: Akinori Nukui, Akinori Masuda, Hideyuki Abe, Kyoko Arai, Ken-Ichiro Yoshida, Takao Kamai

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Background

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a tumor with immunogenic properties. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) has a role in T cell activation and may be important for immune regulation in various conditions, including infections, transplantation rejection, autoimmune inflammatory states, and cancer. We investigated the prognostic value of the serum sIL-2R level in patients with metastatic RCC receiving IFN-alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeting therapy.

Methods

We monitored the serum level of sIL-2R over time and examined phosphorylated Akt expression by the primary tumor in 47 patients with metastatic clear cell RCC (ccRCC) undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy followed by first-line adjuvant therapy with IFN-alpha plus sequential VEGF-targeting therapy as second- or third-line adjuvant therapy.

Results

A preoperative increase of the serum level of sIL-2R was correlated with a higher preoperative serum level of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)-ligand 1 (PD-L1), increased expression of phosphorylated Akt by the primary tumor, and a worse response to IFN-alpha/sequential VEGF-targeting therapy, as well as being an independent prognostic factor for a shorter overall survival time by multivariate analysis. Over time, the serum sIL-2R level largely reflected the tumor response to therapy.

Conclusions

Monitoring the serum level of sIL-2R may help to predict the biological behavior of ccRCC, its response to IFN-alpha/sequential VEGF-targeting therapy, and the prognosis.

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Title: Increased serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor is associated with a worse response of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma to interferon alpha and sequential VEGF-targeting therapy
Authors: Akinori Nukui
Akinori Masuda
Hideyuki Abe
Kyoko Arai
Ken-Ichiro Yoshida
Takao Kamai
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-017-3369-3

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