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Prognostic significance of serum B-lymphocyte stimulator level in Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030 and Department of Clinical Immunoassays, Human Genome Sciences, Inc., Rockville, MD, 20850 USA

Correspondence: Anas Younes, MD, Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030 USA. Phone: international +1.713.7922860. Fax: international +1.713.7945656. E-mail: ayounes{at}mdanderson.org

B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) plays a critical role in the survival of B-lymphocytes. In 50 patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma BLyS levels were higher in newly diagnosed patients (median 2.0 ng/mL, range <0.3–56.0) and relapsed patients (8.7 ng/mL, range 1.5–71.5) than in 93 healthy donors (<0.3 ng/mL, range <0.3–0.5). High serum BLyS levels (2.0 ng/mL) in newly diagnosed patients were associated with resistance to therapy (p=0.01) and shorter progression-free survival (log-rank p=0.029, 2-year rate 64% vs 100%). Serum BLyS levels may have prognostic significance in Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Key words: Hodgkin’s lymphoma, prognostic factor, BLyS.