title: Bcl-6 predicts improved prognosis in primary central nervous system lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In systemic non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), tumors that resemble germinal center B-cells are less aggressive than tumors that resemble postgerminal center B-cells. However, the value of B-cell differentiation markers in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is less clear. The objectives of this study were to characterize the immunophenotypes of PCNSL samples and to determine their utility in predicting clinical outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The immunohistochemical staining profile of PCNSL was determined from 66 immunocompetent patients. Then, the authors evaluated whether the expression of these proteins was associated with progression-free or overall survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 8% of PCNSL samples were positive for the cluster designation (CD) germinal center marker CD10. Another germinal center marker, bcl-6, was positive in 47% of samples. Ninety-four percent of samples expressed significant levels of the postgerminal center marker melanoma-associated antigen (MUM-1). In univariate analyses, only bcl-6 staining had a significant effect on progression-free survival (median, 20.5 months in bcl-6-positive patients vs 10.1 months in bcl-6-negative patients; P = .02). There was a nonsignificant trend toward improved overall survival in patients who had bcl-6 expressing tumors. Older age and poorer performance status, as observed previously, were associated with reduced survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bcl-6 expression was associated with a better prognosis in patients with PCNSL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Oren
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Deangelis
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Filippa
authors.forename: Katherine S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Panageas
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Abrey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6