High serum values of soluble CD154, IL-2 receptor, RANKL and osteoprotegerin in Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Background: To determine useful biochemical markers in Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), we analyzed the serum levels of soluble CD154 (sCD154), IL2 receptor (sIL2-R), receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (sRANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG).

Procedure: Our study included 46 newly diagnosed LCH patients (single-system multi-site (SM type): n = 20, and multi-system multi-site (MM type): n = 26) who were treated with the JLSG-02 protocol between 2002 and 2004. The median age of the patients was 3.