The prognostic significance of serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecules-1 in patients with primary extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Abstract

Elevated levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecules (sICAM)-1 in serum have been shown to be associated with poor prognosis in Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. However, little is known about the significance of serum sICAM-1 levels in extranodal lymphomas. The objective of this study was to examine the sICAM-1 levels in patients with extranodal lymphomas and the correlation with clinical features and outcome. The serum levels of sICAM-1 were measured in stored serum samples of 88 patients with primary extranodal lymphomas at presentation using enzyme-linked immunoassay. The correlation between serum sICAM-1 levels and clinical characteristics, pathologic features, and disease outcome were retrospectively analyzed. Serum sICAM-1 levels in patients with extranodal lymphomas (mean, 372 +/- 198.8 ng/mL; interquartile range, 252-466 ng/mL) were significantly higher than that of healthy control subjects (mean, 214 +/- 78.5 ng/mL; interquartile range, 160-241 ng/mL; P < 0.0001). High serum sICAM-1 levels (>/= 371 ng/mL) were significantly associated with B-symptoms, elevated lactate dehydrogenase level, advanced stage (III/IV; Ann Arbor Staging System), and poor response to therapy. Univariate analysis demonstrated a significantly poorer 5-year disease free (41% vs. 64%; P = 0.01) and overall (44% vs. 73%; P = 0. 003) survival in patients with high serum sICAM-1 as compared with those with normal sICAM-1. In multivariate analysis, both disease free (P = 0.0085) and overall (P = 0.0003) survival were independently associated with high serum sICAM-1 levels. Serum sICAM-1 levels are elevated in patients with extranodal lymphomas. In these individuals, high serum sICAM-1 levels are associated with adverse disease features and poor outcome.