High expression of tumor-infiltrating macrophages correlates with poor prognosis in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Med Oncol. 2012 Dec;29(4):2317-22. doi: 10.1007/s12032-011-0123-6. Epub 2011 Dec 24.

Abstract

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is characterized by its clinical and biological heterogeneity. Although the International Prognostic Index (IPI) provides a clinical model for risk stratification of patients with DLBCL, notable variability in outcome is still observed within the same IPI category. Tumor-infiltrating macrophages (also called Tumor-associated macrophages) are the major component in the microenvironment of DLBCL. Their correlation with the prognosis of DLBCL remains controversial. Using a CD68 antibody in immunohistochemical analysis, we studied the expression of CD68 in 112 Chinese patients with DLBCL, with 65 patients (58%) categorized as low CD68 expression and 47 patients (42%) as high CD68 expression. The complete response (CR) rate of patients with low CD68 expression was higher than that with high CD68 expression (66.1% vs. 51.6%), but there was no statistical significance (P=0.060). The median survival time of patients with low CD68 expression was not achieved and that of high expression was 41 months (P=0.029). The results suggest that higher expression of CD68 tended to yield poor treatment outcome of DLBCL.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / immunology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / mortality*
  • Macrophages / physiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • CD68 antigen, human