Introduction: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common lymphatic neoplasm, accounting for about 30–40% of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases. Objectives: DLBCL is a progressive disease with clinical, genetic and molecular heterogeneity. The prognostic value of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and Ki-67 in DLBCL patients has been controversial. Patients and Methods: In this study, we investigated the correlation of BCL2 and Ki-67 expression with clinical features such as age, gender, B symptoms and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, subtypes of DLBCL, its staging and prognosis in 36 cases of DLBCL. The expression of BCL2 and Ki-67 was measured by immunohistochemistry. Results: There was no significant correlation between BCL2 expression and staging (P=0.082), however Ki-67 expression had a significant correlation with staging (P=0.002). There was no statistically significant correlation between BCL2 and Ki-67 with prognosis of the disease. We found a significant correlation between the germinal center B-cell (GCB) and non- GCB subtypes with BCL2 expression (P=0.024), since patients with non- GCB subtype had a higher BCL2 expression. Our study also demonstrated a significant relationship between BCL2 and Ki-67 expression, therefore, with the increase of the expression of a marker, another increases (P=0.045). Conclusion: BCL2 and Ki-67 expressions were not associated with prognosis. Overexpression of Ki-67 was associated with higher clinical stages. BCL2 expression is higher in non-GCB subtype of DLBCL. Therefore, our study shows that the subsequent studies of BCL2 and other biomarkers in the DLBCL should be based on the DLBCL subtypes.
Prognostic significance of pleural or pericardial effusion and the implication of optimal treatment in primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma: a multicenter retrospective study in Japan