title: HGAL is a novel interleukin-4-inducible gene that strongly predicts survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
abstract: We have cloned and characterized a novel human gene, HGAL (human germinal center-associated lymphoma), which predicts outcome in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The HGAL gene comprises 6 exons and encodes a cytoplasmic protein of 178 amino acids that contains an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). It is highly expressed in germinal center (GC) lymphocytes and GC-derived lymphomas and is homologous to the mouse GC-specific gene M17. Expression of the HGAL gene is specifically induced in B cells by interleukin-4 (IL-4). Patients with DLBCL expressing high levels of HGAL mRNA demonstrate significantly longer overall survival than do patients with low HGAL expression. This association was independent of the clinical international prognostic index. High HGAL mRNA expression should be used as a prognostic factor in DLBCL.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine and the Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Izidore S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lossos
authors.forename: Ash A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.forename: Ranjani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajapaksa
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tibshirani
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018858:Germinal Center; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C476824:GCSAM protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4