Serum Procalcitonin Levels in Newly Diagnosed Hodgkin Lymphoma: Correlation with Other Inflammatory Biomarkers

Background and Objectives: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of sepsis. Inflammatory markers are elevated in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and yet ongoing infection rarely coexists at diagnosis. PCT levels might be helpful in differentiating bacterial from disease-related inflammation. Materials and Methods: We evaluated serum PCT levels and other inflammation markers in newly diagnosed HL patients. Values < 0.50 ng/mL were considered normal (0.10–0.50 ng/mL: detectable, <0.10 ng/mL: undetectable), while values ≥ 0.50 ng/L were considered elevated. Results: Among 137 patients, 55 had B symptoms (40%), 77/130 (59%) had elevated Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and 116 (85%) had elevated C-Reactive Protein (CRP) (median 38.1 mg/L (range; 2.97–328)). PCT levels were normal in most patients (undetectable 94/137 (68.5%) and detectable 41/137(30%)) with median value < 0.10 ng/mL (range; <0.10–15.90). Elevated PCT was recorded in only two patients (1.5%). Patients with PCT < 0.10 ng/mL had significantly lower median CRP (25.75; range (2.97–203.0)) compared to patients with PCT ≥ 0.1 ng/mL (median CRP 92.50 mg/L; range (3.34–328.0)). Almost all patients (40/41, 97.6%) with detectable PCT had elevated CRP. Conclusions: This is the first study showing that the inflammation characterizing HL is not associated with PCT elevations, although CRP levels are elevated in 85% of the patients. Normal PCT levels may rule out the possibility of occult infection, thus preventing extensive evaluation, which may delay treatment initiation

Prognostic implication of the absolute lymphocyte to absolute monocyte count ratio in patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma treated with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine or equivalent regimens.

Low absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) to absolute monocyte count (AMC) ratio (ALC/AMC) is an independent prognostic factor in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), but different cutoffs (1.1, 1.5, and 2.9) have been applied. We aimed to validate the prognostic significance of ALC/AMC in 537 homogenously treated (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine or equivalents ± radiotherapy) classical HL patients at various cutoffs. The median ALC/AMC was 2.24 (0.44-20.50). The median AMC was 0.653 × 10(9)/L (0.050-2.070). Lower ALC/AMC was associated with established markers of adverse prognosis. In total, 477 (89%), 418 (78%), and 189 (35%) patients had an ALC/AMC ratio of ≥1.1, ≥1.5, and ≥2.9; respectively; 20% had monocytosis (≥0.9 × 10(9)/L). Ten-year time to progression (TTP) was 77% versus 55% for patients with ALC/AMC ≥1.1 and <1.1 (p = .0002), 76% versus 68% for ALC/AMC ≥1.5 and <1.5 (p = .049), 77% versus 73% for ALC/AMC ≥2.9 and <2.9 (p = .35), and 79% versus 70% for ALC/AMC ≥2.24 and <2.24 (p = .08), respectively. In stages ΙΑ/ΙΙΑ and in patients ≥60 years old, ALC/AMC had no significant effect on TTP. In advanced stages, ALC/AMC was significant only at the cutoff of 1.1 (10-year TTP 67% vs. 48%; p = .016). In younger, advanced-stage patients, the differences were more pronounced. In multivariate analysis of TTP, ALC/AMC < 1.1 (p = .007) and stage IV (p < .001) were independent prognostic factors; ALC/AMC was independent of International Prognostic Score in another model. ALC/AMC was more predictive of overall survival than TTP. At the cutoff of 1.1, ALC/AMC had independent prognostic value in multivariate analysis. However, the prognostically inferior group comprised only 11% of patients. Further research is needed prior to the widespread use of this promising marker

Serum ferritin levels in previously untreated classical Hodgkin lymphoma: correlations and prognostic significance

Serum ferritin (SF) is frequently elevated in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). We report on its prognostic significance in an unselected series of 529 cHL patients treated with state-of-the-art therapy. Higher baseline levels correlated with markers of advanced/aggressive disease. SF levels were significantly higher in male and older patients, those with high body mass index and mixed cellularity histology. The strongest correlation was recorded between SF and complement reactive protein (CRP) levels. Gender-specific SF cutoffs which provided the best discrimination in terms of freedom from progression (FFP) were identified. In multivariate analysis elevated SF levels, advanced stage and high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were independent prognostic factors of inferior FFP. SF also appears to retain independent prognostic significance for progression-free survival (PFS) but not for overall survival (OS). In conclusion, SF levels in cHL reflect disease activity and are associated with adverse patient outcomes