Journal List > Korean J Hematol > v.40(1) > 1032623

Park, Park, Park, Chun, Park, Yang, Yun, Yun, Kim, Jo, and Kim: Prognostic Significance of Biomarkers of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphomas

Abstract

Background

Biomarkers of lymphomas identified by immunostaining of lymphoma tissues were recently found to have a prognostic value for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL). Thus, it seems likely that the prognostic prediction of lymphomas might be improved by incorporating biological markers into well known prognostic systems.

Methods

To determine the clinical significance of the biological markers expressed in DLBL, 26 patients, with de novo DLBL, were retrospectively studied at the Chungnam National University Hospital. Archival specimens from the patients were stained with antibodies for the bcl-2, bcl-6, Ki-67, CD 10, IRF-4, Granzyme-B, MHC-II and p16 antigens. Two immunophenotypic patterns of DLBL were identified by the pattern of differentiation; the germinal center (GC, CD10±/Bcl-6+/IRF-4-)-like subgroup and the post germinal center (pGC, CD10±/bcl-6±/IRF4+)-like subgroup.

Results

The median age of the subjects was 56 years, ranging form 37 to 69. After a median follow up duration of 48 months, the median survival time was 44 month, ranging from 1~100 months. The five-year overall survival rate Using the Kaplan-Meier method was 32%. The only biomarker affecting the survival was bcl-2 (P=0.009). The survival of the GC-like subgroup was superior to that of the pGC-like subgroup, but without statistical significance (P=0.064). Among 18 patients with IPI scores 0~ 2, those expressing bcl-2 (P=0.002) and the pGC-like subgroup had a worse prognosis compared to the GC-like subgroup (P=0.049).

Conclusion

The prognostic assessment of DLBL patients might be improved by the addition of immunohistochemical profiles, especially for bcl-2, to the traditional IPI system.

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Fig. 1.
Kaplan Meier survival curve of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
kjh-40-15f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Kaplan Meier survival curve according to IPI score (P<0.001).
kjh-40-15f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Kaplan Meier survival curve according to bcl-2 (P=0.009).
kjh-40-15f3.tif
Fig. 4.
Kaplan Meier survival curve according to GC-like subgroup and pGC-like subgroup (P=0.064). The undifferentiated subgroup was excluded.
kjh-40-15f4.tif
Fig. 5.
Kaplan Meier survival curve according to bcl-2 in patients with IPI score 0~2 (P=0.002).
kjh-40-15f5.tif
Fig. 6.
Kaplan Meier survival curve according to GC-like subgroup or pGC-like subgroup in patients with IPI score 0~ 2 (P=0.049). The undifferentiated subgroup was excluded.
kjh-40-15f6.tif
Table 1.
The clinical characteristics and factors affecting survival in DLBL patients (No.=26)
Characteristics No. of patients (%) Median survival (month) P value
Age (yrs)     0.378
Median (range) 56 (37~69) 51  
 <60 17 (65.4) 18  
 ≥60 9 (34.6)    
Sex     0.794
 Male 17 (65.4) 44  
 Female 9 (34.6) 20  
Stage     0.001
 I 2 (7.7) Not reached  
 II 11 (42.3) Not reached  
 III 5 (19.2) 51  
 IV 8 (30.8) 10  
B symptom     0.002
 Yes 5 (19.2) 10  
 No 21 (80.8) 51  
Serum LDH level     0.003
 Elevated 11 (42.3) 11  
 Normal 14 (53.8) 57  
 Unknown 1 (3.9) 7  
Bulky mass     0.001
 Yes 5 (19.2) 7  
 No 20 (76.9) 51  
 Unknown 1 (3.9) 3  
Performance (ECOG)     0.048
 0 2 (7.7) 20  
 1 18 (69.2) 51  
 2 5 (19.2) 11  
 3 1 (3.9) 10  
Number of extranodal lesion     0.005
 0, 1 17 (65.4) 57  
1> 9 (34.6) 11  
International prognostic index score   <0.001
 0 5 (19.2) Not reached  
 1 7 (27.0) 50  
 2 6 (23.1) 24  
 3 3 (11.5) 18  
 4 4 (15.2) 4  
 Unknown 1 (4.0) 7  

Abbreviations: DLBL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; No., number; LDH, lactic dehydrogenase.

Table 2.
The biologic characteristics and markers affecting survival in DLBL patients (No.=26)
Characteristics No. of patients (%) Median survival (month) P value
Bcl-2     0.009
 Positive 17 (65.4) 20  
 Negative 9 (34.6) Not reached  
Bcl-6     0.425
 Positive 20 (76.9) 24  
 Negative 6 (23.1) 18  
Ki-67     0.859
 <60 9 (34.6) 44  
 ≥60 17 (65.4) 20  
 CD10     0.552
 Positive 5 (19.2) Not reached  
 Negative 21 (80.8) 24  
IRF-4     0.184
 Positive 8 (30.8) 20  
 Negative 18 (69.2) 51  
Granzyme-B     0.533
 1+ 17 (65.4) 50  
 2+ 5 (19.2) 18  
 3+ 4 (15.4) 11  
MHC-II     0.447
 Positive 23 (88.5) 44  
 Negative 3 (11.5) 10  
p16     0.372
 Positive 4 (15.4) 44  
 Negative 22 (84.6) 20  
Subgroup     0.064
 GC group 14 (53.8) 51  
 pGC group 7 (27.0) 20  
 Undifferentiated 5 (19.2)    

The undifferentiated subgroup was excluded. Abbreviations: GC group, germinal center-like subgroup; pGC group, postgerminal center-like subgroup.

Table 3.
The biologic characteristics and markers affecting survival in DLBL patients with IPI score 0~2 (No.=18)
Characteristics No. of patients (%) Median survival (month) P value
Bcl-2     0.002
 Positive 11 (61.1) 44  
 Negative 7 (38.9) Not reached  
Bcl-6     0.370
 Positive 15 (83.3) 51  
 Negative 3 (16.7) Not reached  
Ki-67     0.352
 <60 7 (38.9) 51  
 ≥60 11 (61.1) Not reached  
CD 10     0.169
 Positive 3 (16.7) Not reached  
 Negative 15 (83.3) 51  
IRF-4     0.101
 Positive 5 (27.8) 44  
 Negative 13 (72.2) Not reached  
Granzyme B     0.381
 1+ 14 (77.8) 51  
 2+ 2 (11.1) 15  
 3+ 2 (11.1) Not reached  
MHC-II     0.418
 Positive 17 (94.4) 57  
 Negative 1 (5.6) Not reached  
p16     0.448
 Positive 3 (16.7) Not reached  
 Negative 15 (83.3) 57  
Subgroup     0.049
 GC 11 (61.1) Not reached  
 pGC 4 (22.2) 24  

The undifferentiated subgroup was excluded.

Table 4.
Multivariate analysis by Cox's regression in overall patients
Characteristics Relative risk (95% CI) P value
IPI score 2.381 (1.530~3.706) <0.001
Bcl-2 21.711 (1.812~260.122) 0.015
GC subgroup 1.715 (0.588~5.004) 0.323
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