Clinical features of tumor-associated leukocytosis:
(1) presence of a malignancy
(2) presence of leukocytosis with the WBC count > 10,000 per µL
(3) exclusion of infection, necrosis and other conditions associated with leukocytosis
(4) elevation in one or more serum cytokines, including granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), etc.
Sometimes it is possible to demonstrate excess production of the implicated cytokine in tumor cells.
Usually the leukocytosis will remit with successful treatment of the tumor only to recur with relapse.
Non-small cancer of the lung (NSCL) is associated with tumor-associated leukocytosis. The presence of the leukocytosis is associated with a poor prognosis and worse response to therapy.
