Cytokine
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Prediction of bacteremia/sepsis in childhood oncology patients with febrile neutropenia still remains a challenge for the medical community due to the lack of reliable biomarkers, especially at the beginning of infectious process. The objective of this study was to evaluate diagnostic value of soluble biomarkers (CD14 subtype, interleukin-2 receptor, HLA-G) and procalcitonin (PCT) in the identification of infectious process at the beginning of a febrile episode in pediatric oncology patients. ⋯ PCT and sIL-2R determination might be used as an additional diagnostic tool for the detection of bacteremia/sepsis in childhood oncology patients with febrile neutropenia.