Expression of the polycomb-group gene BMI1 is related to an unfavourable prognosis in primary nodal DLBCL.
BACKGROUND
Clinical outcome in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL) is highly variable and poorly predictable. Microarray studies showed that patients with DLBCL with a germinal centre B cell-like (GCB) phenotype have a better prognosis than those with an activated B cell-like (ABC) phenotype. The BMI1 proto-oncogene was identified as one of the genes present in the signature of the ABC type of DLBCL, associated with a poor prognosis.


OBJECTIVE
(1) To investigate, in primary nodal DLBCL, the expression of BMI1 and its association with clinical outcome and DLBCL signature; (2) to look for an association between BMI1 expression and the expression of its putative downstream targets p14ARF and p16INK4a.


RESULTS
BMI1 expression was found to be associated with poor clinical outcome, but not clearly with an ABC-like phenotype of DLBCL. Expression of BMI1 was frequently, but not always, related to low levels of expression of p14ARF and p16INK4a.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of BMI1 is associated with an unfavourable clinical outcome of primary nodal DLBCL.
van Galen
Joost C
JC
Department of Pathology, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Muris
Jettie J F
JJ
Oudejans
Joost J
JJ
Vos
Wim
W
Giroth
Cindy P E
CP
Ossenkoppele
Gert J
GJ
Otte
Arie P
AP
Raaphorst
Frank M
FM
Meijer
Chris J L M
CJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D011379:Prognosis; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D025803:Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF / Q000378:metabolism
C069077:BMI1 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D025803:Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1