title: 3H-thymidine uptake in B cell lymphomas--relationship to treatment response and survival.
abstract: Cell suspensions were obtained from biopsy tissue from 149 patients with B cell lymphomas and analysed with regard to DNA-synthesis as assessed by 3H-thymidine uptake, response to therapy and survival. The 3H-thymidine uptake was significantly increased in lymphomas of high versus low grade malignancy (p = 0.0001), in patients with stage I and II versus stage III and IV (p = 0.014), and in patients with general symptoms (p = 0.0025) as opposed to asymptomatic cases. The complete response rate was significantly higher in patients with increased thymidine uptake than in those with low uptake, 26/51 (51%) cases versus 24/83 (29%) cases, respectively (p = 0.014). 55 patients with increased 3H-thymidine uptake survived for significantly shorter times than (94 patients) with low uptake (p = 0.0056). Furthermore, a markedly larger group of high-risk patients was identified by the 3H-thymidine assay than by histopathology alone, 55 cases versus 23 cases, respectively. Among the patients (126 cases) with low grade tumours, those with increased 3H-thymidine uptake (40 cases) had poorer outcome than those with low uptake (86 cases) (p = 0.045). The data suggest that DNA-synthesis in this study, as assessed by 3H-thymidine uptake, is an independent indicator of survival in NHL. Furthermore, it may be a useful parameter in laying down guidelines for therapy in B cell neoplasms, especially in low grade tumours.
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D004261:DNA Replication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000032:analysis; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000032:analysis; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D014316:Tritium; D013936:Thymidine