Association Between Elevated Serum Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Levels and Clinicopathological Features in B-cell Lymphoma Patients

Abstract

Background: Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) regulates the proliferation and supports the viability of monocytes, macrophages, and their bone marrow progenitors. M-CSF is found in high concentrations in the serum of patients with various malignancies. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum levels of M-CSF and clinicopathological features in a B-cell lymphoma patient group. Methods: Data of 101 patients with B-cell lymphoma and 48 healthy control subjects were evaluated. Staging for B-cell lymphoma was performed according to the Lugano criteria. Serum M-CSF concentrations were measured using the Quantikine ELISA Human M-CSF Immunoassay (R&D Systems, Inc., USA). We established a 95th percentile reference interval in healthy controls and reviewed the clinicopathological characteristics. Results: The 95th percentile of the serum M-CSF in healthy controls was 48.8-173.0 pg/mL. The mean serum M-CSF level in the patient group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (293.3±270.9 pg/mL vs. 97.3±34.6 pg/mL, P < 0.001). The mean M-CSF level was significantly higher in patients aged >60 years (P =0.027), and those with diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (P =0.046), advanced stages (P < 0.001), abnormal free light chain ratios (P =0.036), high-risk international prognostic index scores (P < 0.001), and lactate dehydrogenase above the reference range (P =0.002). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that elevated serum M-CSF levels have an association with adverse clinicopathological features in B-cell lymphoma patients and may be a potential prognostic predictor.