Korean J Pathol.  2011 Dec;45(6):573-581.

Prognostic Implication of Programmed Death-1-Positive Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

• Ko YS
• Oh YH
• Park CK
• Kim WY
• Han HS
• Lim SD
• Hwang TS
• Kim WS

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is physiologically expressed by germinal center-associated helper T-cells and has an inhibitory effect on T-cell activity.
METHODS
We examined 63 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and determined the number of PD-1-positive helper T-cells in a representative tumor area after immunohistochemical staining using a monoclonal antibody against PD-1. The PD-1-positive cells were counted in 3 high-power fields (HPFs; 400x).
RESULTS
Patients were divided into 2 groups: one with a high number of PD-1-positive cells (>20/HPF, n=33) and one with a low number of PD-1-positive cells (< or =20/HPF, n=30). The former group showed decreased overall survival, but at a statistically non-significant level (p=0.073). A high number of PD-1-positive cells was more common in patients at an advanced clinical stage and with high international prognostic index score (p=0.025 and p=0.026, respectively). The number of extranodal sites also somewhat correlated with the PD-1 staining status (p=0.071). However, the number of PD-1-positive cells was not associated with patient age, serum lactate dehydrogenase level, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score.
CONCLUSIONS
The high number of PD-1-positive cells might be associated with an unfavorable outcome in DLBCL patients.

Keyword

Lymphoma, large B-cell, diffuse; Programmed death-1 (PD-1); Lymphoma; Prognostic factor

MeSH Terms

B-Lymphocytes
Humans
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating
Lymphoma
Lymphoma, B-Cell
Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse
T-Lymphocytes
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
L-Lactate Dehydrogenase