No abstract

Background: Follicular lymphoma (FL), the most frequent type of indolent non Hodgkin lymphoma, exhibits a heterogeneous clinical behavior. Predictive biological variables are eagerly sought, in an effort to better anticipate outcomes for each individual patient. Cytokines are small proteins involved in cell signaling and immune regulation. The levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have been correlated with tumor burden and prognosis in solid tumors and some lymphomas. High sIL-2R has been associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) in FL, but the impact of the levels of IL-6 and TNF is not known in this disease specifically. Aims: To determine the prognostic significance of the serum levels of sIL-2R, IL-6 and TNF in patients with newly diagnosed FL. Methods: We identified 300 patients (132 males/168 females; median age: 60 years) diagnosed with FL at our institution between January 2002 and December 2017 who had available information about serum cytokine levels (sIL-2R, IL-6 and TNF), determined by ELISA, before the initiation of frontline treatment. Baseline patient and disease characteristics, type of frontline treatment, PFS and overall survival (OS) were assessed retrospectively and compared between patients with normal vs. elevated levels (above the upper normal limit) of each one of the three evaluated cytokines. Results: Baseline characteristics, treatment, response, PFS and OS data are detailed in the table. Patients with elevated IL-6 or TNF levels were older and those with elevated IL-6 had a worse performance status and higher rate of B symptoms. An advanced stage was more frequently seen in patients with any elevated cytokine, while secondary extranodal involvement, and specifically, bone marrow involvement, was more frequent if either sIL-2R or TNF were raised. Patients with any elevated cytokine were more likely to have elevated LDH or β 2-microglobulin (β 2 m) levels or a high-risk FLIPI score. A Ki67 index >30% was more frequently seen among patients with high TNF levels. Patients requiring frontline treatment with R-CHOP showed higher levels of any one of the 3 evaluated cytokines, while those who were not treated or received single-agent rituximab were more likely to have normal levels. The complete response (CR) rate was higher for patients with normal levels of sIL-2R and TNF. Median PFS was 10 years for treated patients in the entire series. 10-year PFS was significantly lower for patients with high levels of either sIL-2R, IL-6 or TNF. Similarly, patients who had elevated levels of any one of the 3 evaluated cytokines had a lower 10-year OS. However, in a multivariate analysis including FLIPI score, β 2 m and cytokine levels, only FLIPI and β 2 m retained statistical significance for PFS and OS.Summary/Conclusion: FL patients with elevated levels of cytokines are more symptomatic and have a higher tumor burden. Despite being treated more aggressively, they are less likely to achieve a CR after treatment or to mai...