Increased plasma concentrations for type I and II tumor necrosis factor receptors and IL-2 receptors in cancer patients.

Using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays for the soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors type I (p55) and type II (p75) and IL-2 receptor we determined their levels in the plasma of 378 patients with various solid carcinomas, 56 patients with benign tumors, and 241 healthy controls. The plasma concentrations of both TNF receptors as well as the IL-2 receptor were significantly higher in the cancer patients than in the healthy controls, independent of the origin or histology of the tumor. The incidence and the extent of the receptor increase correlated with the extent of the disease. In the patients with benign tumors plasma levels of TNF receptor p75 and IL-2 receptor were not significantly different from the controls.