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

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.