title: CD40 expression identifies a prognostically favourable subgroup of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
abstract: In order to confirm our earlier findings of the prognostic effects of CD23 and CD40 expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), possibly due to association with the germinal center (GC) phenotype and/or an increased autologous tumour response, tumour specimens from 125 patients with de novo DLBCL were investigated for immunohistochemical expression of CD23, CD40, BCL6, CD10, MUM1, CD4 and CD8. CD40 was positive in 64% and was associated with improved overall survival (p = 0.03). A GC phenotype was present in 47%, and was also associated with a better overall survival (p = 0.006) but did not correlate with CD40-expression. There was no correlation between amount of tumour infiltrating T-cells and CD40-positivity. CD23 was positive in 10% and expression did not correlate with prognosis. In conclusion, the prognostic effect of CD40 expression was confirmed, but did not correlate with GC-phenotype or T-cell infiltration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Institution of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. johan.linderoth@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linderoth
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehinger
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jerkeman
authors.forename: Pär-Ola
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Bendahl
authors.forename: Måns
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akerman
authors.forename: Mattias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Enblad
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erlanson
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cavallin-Ståhl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis