title: Immunohistochemical profiling of caspase signaling pathways predicts clinical response to chemotherapy in primary nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.
abstract: We used biopsy specimens of primary nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) to investigate whether the inhibition of caspase 8 and/or 9 apoptosis signaling pathways predicts clinical outcome. Expression levels of cellular FLICE inhibitory protein (c-Flip) and numbers of active caspase 3-positive lymphoma cells were used to determine the status of the caspase 8-mediated pathway. Expression levels of Bcl-2 and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) were used to determine the status of the caspase 9-mediated pathway. Expression of c-Flip, XIAP, Bcl-2, and caspase 3 activity all provided prognostic information. According to these immunohistochemical parameters, inhibition of either or both caspase signaling pathways was detected in all patients. Three groups of patients were identified, one with a caspase 8 inhibition profile, one with caspase 8 and 9 inhibition profiles, and one with a caspase 9 inhibition profile. Caspase 9 inhibition was strongly associated with poor response to chemotherapy and usually with fatal outcome, whereas caspase 8 inhibition was associated with excellent clinical outcome. Thus, our data strongly suggest that inhibition of the caspase 9-mediated pathway, but not the caspase 8-mediated pathway, is a major cause for therapy resistance in patients with nodal DLBCL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, VU Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jettie J F
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Muris
authors.forename: Saskia A G M
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cillessen
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: Inge S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: van Houdt
authors.forename: J Alain
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kummer
authors.forename: Johan H J M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: van Krieken
authors.forename: N Mehdi
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Jiwa
authors.forename: Patty M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Hanneke C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kluin-Nelemans
authors.forename: Gert J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ossenkoppele
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gundy
authors.forename: Chris J L M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: Joost J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Oudejans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; C506386:CFLAR protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; C496866:XIAP protein, human; D005047:Etoposide; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases