CD43 expression is an adverse prognostic factor in diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
CD43 is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed in different hematopoietic cells, including some subsets of B lymphocytes. About a quarter of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) express CD43, but its prognostic significance is unknown.


METHODS
We analyzed the prognostic effect of immunohistochemically determined CD43 expression in 119 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL. All were treated with CHOP (cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone)-like chemotherapy, 57 without and 62 with rituximab.


RESULTS
A total of 31 DLBCL cases (26%) expressed CD43. Patients with CD43+ and CD43- lymphomas did not differ regarding sex, International Prognostic Index (IPI) factors and score, rituximab treatment, presence of bulky disease, or germinal center subtype. Median follow-up was 45 months. Patients with CD43+ DLBCL had significantly lower complete response rates (59% vs. 80%; P = .019), 2-year event-free survival (EFS) rates (34% vs. 64%; P = .003), and overall survival (OS) rates (45% vs. 76%; P = .002). The prognostic significance of CD43 expression was retained in multivariate analysis (relative risk [RR] 2.04; P = .013 for EFS; RR 2.17; P = .016 for OS). In subgroup analysis, the effect of CD43 expression was significant in patients treated with rituximab and those with low IPI, whereas it was not reached in patients treated without rituximab. The effect was not observed in patients with high IPI.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that CD43 expression is an important independent adverse prognostic factor in DLBCL.
Mitrovic
Zdravko
Z
Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Center and Medical School University of Zagreb, Croatia. mitrovic@mef.hr
Ilic
Ivana
I
Nola
Marin
M
Aurer
Igor
I
Sonicki
Zdenko
Z
Basic-Kinda
Sandra
S
Radman
Ivo
I
Ajdukovic
Radmila
R
Labar
Boris
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051917:Leukosialin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051917:Leukosialin; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone