DLBCL, GC and activation markers

Gene expression profiles similar to those of germinal centre B-cells are associated with a better prognosis in DLBCL, compared to those with B-cell activation profiles2. This finding has been confirmed and shown to be an independent prognostic indicator, along with the International Prognostic Index3.

In diagnostic practice, immunohistochemistry is more readily available than cDNA profiling. Those whose DLBCL shows positivity for germinal centre markers (CD10 or bcl-6) AND are negative negative for activation markers (CD138 and MUM1/IRF4) have a much better prognosis (relative risk of death 0.135, p = 0.008)1. By multivariate analysis, this immunohistochemical profile and the International Prognostic Index were significant independent predictors of survival.

References

1Chang, C. C., S. McClintock, et al. (2004). "Immunohistochemical expression patterns of germinal center and activation B-cell markers correlate with prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma." Am J Surg Pathol 28(4): 464-70.

2Alizadeh, A. A., M. B. Eisen, et al. (2000). "Distinct types of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma identified by gene expression profiling." Nature 403(6769): 503-11.

3Rosenwald, A., G. Wright, et al. (2002). "The use of molecular profiling to predict survival after chemotherapy for diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma." N Engl J Med 346(25): 1937-47.