title: Pretreatment serum level of 15-kDa granulysin might have a prognostic value in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Granulysin (cytolytic molecules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells) is synthesized as cytosolic 9-kDa and secretary 15-kDa isoforms. We evaluated the prognostic significance of the pretreatment serum level of 15-kDa granulysin in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was conducted on 88 DLBCL patients treated homogeneously with standard chemotherapy. The granulysin level was quantified in pretreatment samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The granulysin level in DLBCL patients was significantly lower than that in healthy controls (522 ± 496 vs. 1,945 ± 1,696 pg/ml; p < 0.0001), and the level in patients who experienced recurrence within 3 years was significantly lower than that of patients without recurrence (305 ± 337 vs. 720 ± 607 pg/ml; p = 0.001). Patients with granulysin levels higher than the median level showed significantly longer progression-free and overall survival according to univariate analysis (p = 0.031 and p = 0.014, respectively). In multivariate analysis, the granulysin level was an independently significant prognostic factor of overall survival (p = 0.018; hazard ratio, 0.521; 95% confidence interval, 0.188-0.841).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretreatment serum level of 15-kDa granulysin may be a valuable prognostic marker in DLBCL patients treated with standard chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yoon Ji
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Se Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Se Ryeon
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hwa Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Kyong Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soek Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chul Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kwang Yoon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Byung Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C075005:GNLY protein, human; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D003561:Cytarabine; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin; D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone