title: Prognostic significance of hypoxia inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with rituximab.
abstract: We evaluated hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and their prognostic significance in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Expression of HIF-1α and VEGF was studied in 78 patients and results correlated with clinicopathological and prognostic data. HIF-1α and VEGF were expressed in 67% and 84% of patients, respectively, and a significant correlation was demonstrated between them (p < 0.001). Outcome was analyzed according to treatment. HIF-1α positive patients given rituximab demonstrated improved outcome, with 5-year overall survival of 72% for those receiving rituximab versus 65% for those not receiving rituximab, and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) 76% versus 57%. No correlation was demonstrated between HIF-1α and other prognostic biomarkers including BCL6, CD10 and MUM-1. We demonstrated significantly improved PFS (p = 0.003) in patients receiving rituximab and showing BCL6 overexpression. The results confirm the significant association between HIF-1α and VEGF expression and suggest that HIF-1α expression is a favorable prognostic factor in patients with DLBCL treated with rituximab.
authors.affiliation: Velindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, Wales, UK. PowellJR2@cardiff .ac.uk
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dojcinov
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wosniak
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerry
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casbard
authors.forename: Hazel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gallop-Evans
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maughan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069283:Rituximab