Serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) levels in newly diagnosed patients with Hodgkin lymphoma: a new promising and predictive tool? Preliminary report

• Published in: Journal of hematopathology Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 277 - 281
• Main Authors: Kopińska, Anna, Koclęga, Anna, Francuz, Tomasz, Helbig, Grzegorz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Hematology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Pathology; Response; Chemotherapy; Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine; Hodgkin lymphoma
• ISSN: 1868-9256; 1865-5785
• DOI: 10.1007/s12308-021-00470-8

Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is expressed on Reed-Sternberg cells of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and may serve as a marker in response assessment. In our study, we correlated serum TARC levels with early response to treatment measured by PET/CT in 19 newly diagnosed patients with HL who received ABVD (Adriblastin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine) regimen. Finally, 17 patients were analyzed and six of them (35%) achieved PET/CT negativity defined as Deauville (D) 1 or 2 after 2 cycles of ABVD; 11 pts (65%) had D3 on PET/CT. None of the patients presented D 4/5. Median serum TARC levels at diagnosis were significantly higher when compared with healthy controls: 5718 pg/ml vs 76.1 pg/ml ( p  < 0.001). All study patients were treated with ABVD regimen and there was a significant decrease of baseline serum TARC levels after 2 cycles of therapy. No significant difference of baseline serum TARC levels was demonstrated between patients with D1/2 and D3 whereas levels were significantly decreased after 2 cycles of ABVD in patients D1/2 vs D3; p  = 0.049. There was a tendency to higher baseline serum TARC levels in patients with an increased LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) activity ( p  = 0.08) and in those who progressed when compared with those who maintained response ( p  = 0.09). Serum TARC levels decrease after chemotherapy and may serve as a marker of response assessment.