[An investigation of serum soluble interferon receptor levels in patients with renal cell carcinoma].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Serum soluble interferon alpha/beta receptor (s-IFN-receptor) levels were determined in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients to study the clinical significance of the measurement. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: S-IFN-receptor levels were measured in RCC patients (n = 27) and healthy volunteers (n = 22) by enzyme immunoassay technique. RESULTS: Significantly higher serum s-IFN-receptor levels were observed in RCC patients compared with the healthy volunteers (p < 0.003). The high s-IFN receptor levels in the patients suggested seriousness and mal-prognosis of this disease. The 4-years survival rate of the higher level group (with the mean value of 2.7 +/- 1.7 ng/ml or more) was 53.3%, while the lower level group's rate was 78.7% (Statistical analysis result by Logrank (Mantel-Cox) test; p = 0.4289). CONCLUSION: Further study in more subjects is required to determine the feasibility of the s-IFN receptor levels as a prognosis marker, since correlation between the prognosis and s-IFN receptor level was not clarified by this study result.