sIL-2R- an Immuno-biomarker for Prediction of Metastases in Uveal Melanoma

• Published in: Anticancer research 2022-03, Vol.42 (3), p.1447-1453
• Main Authors: Barak, Vivian, Kalickman, Ina, Pe'er, Jacob
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Biomedical materials; Brachytherapy; Case-Control Studies; Computed tomography; Diagnosis; Enucleation; Evaluation; Humans; Interleukin 2; Interleukin 2 receptors; Liver; Liver Neoplasms - blood; Liver Neoplasms - immunology; Liver Neoplasms - secondary; Liver Neoplasms - therapy; Malignancy; Melanoma; Melanoma - blood; Melanoma - immunology; Melanoma - secondary; Melanoma - therapy; Metastases; Metastasis; Osteopontin; Patients; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Radiation therapy; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - blood; Serum levels; Time Factors; Up-Regulation; Uveal Neoplasms - blood; Uveal Neoplasms - immunology; Uveal Neoplasms - pathology; Uveal Neoplasms - therapy
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530
• DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.15615

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. High serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) have been reported in acute inflammations and metastatic cancers. This study evaluated the potential of high/increasing sIL-2R levels in predicting metastases. The study included a total of 1,546 sera samples of subjects from three groups: 119 healthy controls (73 subjects), 566 UM 10 year (10y) disease-free (DF) (220 patients), 861 metastatic UM (268 patients). Patients were followed-up biannually with liver ultrasound and liver function tests for the presence of metastases (Mets). Blood samples to measure the levels of sIL-2R were obtained at the time of primary diagnosis, soon after initial treatment (enucleation, brachytherapy), every 6 months, 10 years from diagnosis, at Mets confirmation by CT, and after additional treatments. Significantly higher sIL-2R levels were detected in the Mets patients compared to healthy controls and 10y DF patients. Compared to the upper limit of the normal levels of sIL-2R, 1,000 U/ml, its levels in metastatic UM were 61%, 25% in 10y DF UM, and 6.25% in the controls. High levels of sIL-2R in metastatic patients, decreased significantly post treatments. Individual kinetics of markers, indicated similar trends of sIL-2R compared to osteopontin and S-Protein 100, predicting metastases, which were confirmed on liver imaging. Significantly higher sIL-2R levels were evident in all UM patients with Mets. Significant increases in sIL-2R levels on serial evaluations indicated and predicted UM Mets, enabling earlier treatment of Mets, to improve survival.