Serum BAFF predicts prognosis better than APRIL in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients treated with rituximab plus CHOP chemotherapy

Seok Jin Kim, Seung Jin Lee, In Young Choi, Yong Park, Chul Won Choi, In Sun Kim, Woosung Yu, Hee Sang Hwang, Byung Soo Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: B-cell activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) regulate survival and proliferation of B cells. Thus the association of elevated serum levels of BAFF and APRIL with worse prognosis has been suggested in B-cell lymphoid malignancies. However, the prognostic relevance of BAFF and APRIL is unknown in patients treated with rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting B-cell depletion. Methods: We measured serum levels of BAFF and APRIL by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 66 patients newly diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). All patients were treated with rituximab-CHOP chemotherapy. Results: The mean (±standard deviation) serum level of BAFF (1 970.21 ± 1 979.45 pg/mL) was higher in DLBCL than in controls (861.03 ± 194.92 pg/mL, Mann-Whitney U-test, P < 0.001). When the patients were dichotomized into high and low BAFF group based on the median value (1 258.00 pg/mL), high BAFF group had less numbers of complete responders to rituximab-CHOP, and more relapses or progression after or during treatment. In multivariate analysis, serum BAFF was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival and progression-free survival (P < 0.05). Although serum levels of APRIL was also higher than controls (10.60 ± 19.08 ng/mL vs. 1.10 ± 0.30 ng/mL, P = 0.023), it failed to show prognostic significance. Conclusions: Serum BAFF may be a useful indicator predicting prognosis in DLBCL patients treated with rituximab-containing chemotherapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)177-184
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Journal of Haematology
Volume81
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008 Sept

Keywords

  • APRIL
  • BAFF
  • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
  • Rituximab

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology

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