Circulating LR11 is a novel soluble-receptor marker for early-stage clinical conditions in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND

We reported that the soluble LDL receptor relative with 11 ligand-binding repeats (sLR11) is a promising biomarker for follicular lymphoma (FL). In this study, we evaluated the fluctuations in serum sLR11 levels compared with those of serum soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

METHODS

Serum sLR11, suPAR, and sIL-2R levels were measured using ELISA in 175 NHL patients and 57 healthy controls. The levels at diagnosis and at remission were evaluated in 64 paired samples.

RESULTS

Serum sLR11 levels were significantly increased in FL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and peripheral T-cell lymphoma patients compared with healthy controls. Serum sLR11 levels revealed significant positive correlations with serum suPAR and sIL-2R levels. Serum sLR11 levels at remission were decreased compared with those at diagnosis, and the declines at remission expressed a slope of approximately -1 with an intercept near that of controls. The receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve of serum sLR11 concentrations was equivalent to that of serum suPAR and sIL-2R concentrations in an early-stage DLBCL and FL.

CONCLUSIONS

sLR11 may be a novel soluble receptor indicative of early-stage NHL, with potential use for evaluating therapeutic efficacy.