The density of CD8+ T-cell infiltration and expression of BCL2 predicts outcome of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of bone

Virchows Arch. 2014 Feb;464(2):229-39. doi: 10.1007/s00428-013-1519-9. Epub 2013 Dec 4.

Abstract

Primary bone lymphoma (PBL) comprises 5 % of all extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounts for the majority of cases, which is the most heterogeneous group of lymphomas. Previous studies suggested that besides the tumor cell phenotype, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/acutely transforming retrovirus/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway activity and the composition of the immune-microenvironment of DLBCL influence the clinical behavior of the disease. The aim of our study was to determine the relationship between clinical factors, tumor cell phenotype, microenvironment, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activity, and disease outcome in primary bone diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PB-DLBCL). We constructed tissue-microarrays from 41 cases of PB-DLBCL. To characterize tumor cell phenotype, T-cell subsets, macrophages, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activity immunohistochemical stainings were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis provided evidence that age (≤65), CD3 and CD8+ T cell infiltrations >5 %, low BCL2 expression of the tumor cells (≤30 %), and low proliferation index (Ki67 ≤ 57 %) were associated with favorable outcome of PB-DLBCL patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that CD8+ T cell infiltration >5 % and low BCL2 expression (≤30 %) were independent predictors of survival. Increased macrophage infiltration (>10 %) showed tendency toward an adverse prognostic effect. International prognostic index, tumor cell phenotype (GCB or ABC), MYC protein expression, and activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway had no significant impact on survival. However, mTOR activity showed a significant correlation with activated B-cell phenotype. We conclude that CD8 and BCL2 expressions are potential prognostic markers for PB-DLBCL patients and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway appears to be an additional therapeutic target in PB-DLBCL with activated-B-cell phenotype.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / immunology*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / metabolism*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / analysis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Tissue Array Analysis
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2