Expression of BAFF-R, but not BAFF, is an independent prognostic factor in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients treated with R-CHOP.
B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R) play crucial roles in the progression of malignant B-cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression profiles and the clinical significance of BAFF and BAFF-R in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Paraffin-embedded specimens from 136 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL, treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy (R-CHOP), were examined for BAFF and BAFF-R expression by immunohistochemistry. BAFF and BAFF-R were expressed in 72.1 % (98/136) and 47.1 % (64/136) of the DLBCL tissues, respectively. Negative BAFF-R expression was significantly correlated with elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (P = 0.036), an International Prognostic Index (IPI) score of 2 or higher (P < 0.001), and a poor revised IPI (R-IPI) risk score (P = 0.043). The complete response rate after R-CHOP was higher in patients with positive BAFF-R expression than in those with negative BAFF-R expression (73.4 vs. 56.9 %, P = 0.045). Negative expression of BAFF-R, but not of BAFF, was significantly associated with inferior progression-free survival (PFS; P = 0.020) and overall survival (OS; P = 0.028). Only negative BAFF-R expression was correlated with inferior PFS and OS in multivariate analysis (P = 0.049 and 0.040, respectively). Taken together, our results showed that the majority and approximate one-half of patients with DLBCL were positive for BAFF and BAFF-R, respectively. Negative expression of BAFF-R, but not of BAFF, could be an independent risk factor for PFS and OS in patients with DLBCL treated with standard R-CHOP.
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Yu
Y
Wang
Department of Lymphoma and Hematology, Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.|The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
Ya-Jun
YJ
Li
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Wen-Qi
WQ
Jiang
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.|Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Hui-Lan
HL
Rao
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Jia-Jia
JJ
Huang
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Yi
Y
Xia
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Xiwen
X
Bi
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Peng
P
Sun
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Hui-Qiang
HQ
Huang
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Tong-Yu
TY
Lin
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Zhong-Zhen
ZZ
Guan
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China. lzmsysu@hotmail.com.|Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China. lzmsysu@hotmail.com.
Zhi-Ming
ZM
Li
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C571759:R-CHOP protocol; C435926:TNFRSF13C protein, human; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone
BAFF; BAFF-R; Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; R-CHOP