Expression of BAFF and BAFF-R in follicular lymphoma: correlation with clinicopathologic characteristics and survival outcomes.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

B-cell activation factor (BAFF) and BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R) play crucial roles in the viability and proliferation of malignant lymphoma cells. Limited information exists regarding expression profiles and the prognostic role of BAFF and BAFF-R in follicular lymphoma (FL). We sought to determine the expression profiles of BAFF and BAFF-R in FL and to evaluate the correlation of BAFF and BAFF-R expression with clinicopathologic characteristics and outcome of FL. Correlation between expression levels of BAFF detected by immunohistochemical (IHC) and serum levels of BAFF was also evaluated.

METHODS:

Paraffin-embedded specimens from 115 patients were immunohistochemically examined for BAFF and BAFF-R expression. Expression levels were dichotomized into low versus high categories based on immunostaining intensity. The correlation of BAFF and BAFF-R expression with clinicopathologic characteristics and patient outcome was assessed. Serum levels of BAFF in 35 of the 115 patients with IHC data were measured by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS:

BAFF and BAFF-R were expressed in 88.7% (102/115) and 87.8% (101/115) of the cases, respectively. BAFF expression was significantly correlated with only one clinicopathologic feature: Ann Arbor stage. No significant correlation was found between expression levels of BAFF detected by IHC and serum levels of BAFF detected by ELISA. High expression of BAFF-R, but not BAFF, was significantly correlated with inferior progression-free survival (PFS; P = 0.013) and overall survival (OS; P = 0.03). High expression of BAFF-R, bulky disease, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase were correlated with inferior PFS and OS in multivariate analysis. A prognostic scoring system incorporating these 3 risk factors identified 3 distinct prognostic groups with 5-year PFS of 59.4%, 41.9%, and 10.7% and OS of 91.3%, 79.7%, and 45.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Most patients with FL variably express BAFF and BAFF-R. High expression of BAFF-R, but not BAFF, may be an independent risk factor for PFS and OS in FL.

• Authors: Ya-Jun Li, Wen-Qi Jiang, Hui-Lan Rao, Jia-Jia Huang, Yi Xia, Hui-Qiang Huang, Tong-Yu Lin, Zhong-Jun Xia, Su Li, Zhi-Ming Li
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 7 Issue 12 Pg. e50936 ( 2012) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23272079 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• B-Cell Activating Factor
• B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor
• TNFSF13B protein, human

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• B-Cell Activating Factor (biosynthesis)
• B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor (biosynthesis)
• Cell Proliferation
• Cell Survival
• Disease-Free Survival
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (methods)
• Female
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry (methods)
• Lymphoma, Follicular (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Models, Statistical
• Prognosis
• Treatment Outcome