Tumor necrosis factor in children with malignancies.

We measured serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) concentrations by a double-antibody radioimmunoassay method, with a detection level of 10 ng/liter, in 32 children with malignancies. Seventeen had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 4 had acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, and 11 had solid tumors. At the diagnosis of malignant disease, 30 of the 32 patients had elevated serum TNF levels ranging up to 450 ng/liter. After complete remission status was achieved, 2-6 months from the diagnosis, the TNF levels were within the range of 130 healthy children who served as the reference group. Most of them had TNF levels below the detection limit. We consider the upper limit of normal to be 40 ng/liter. We conclude that elevated serum TNF concentration may be of potential significance in the diagnosis and follow-up of children with malignant diseases.