Serum miR-21 predicts the prognosis of patients with primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Abstract

Background: Primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PGI-DLBCL) lacks specific clinical manifestations and its malignancy renders prognostication and choice of treatment strategy difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate microRNA (miR)-21 as potential non-invasive biomarkers for prognosis in PGI-DLBCL patients. Methods: Serum miR-21 expression in de novo PGI-DLBCL patients, consecutively enrolled for this study, was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Relative expression was calculated using the comparative Ct method. Statistical significance was determined using the Mann-Whitney rank sum and Fisher’s exact test. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Compared with healthy controls, serum miR-21 levels were significantly elevated in the PGI-DLBCL patients (n=156). The high expression level of serum miR-21 at diagnosis was associated with worse progression-free survival (PFS) (30 (9–42) vs 42 (12–52) months in high and low miR-21 groups) and overall survival (OS) (35 (15–52) vs 48 (17–61) months in high and low miR-21 groups) and was an independent risk factor for PFS and OS (hazard ratios 4.345 and 3.311, respectively). Furthermore, Bcl-2, Bcl-6 and Ki-67 were independently and positively associated with miR-21 expression. Conclusions: Our results suggest that miR-21 is a potential prognostic marker to predict clinical outcomes in PGI-DLBCL patients and a high miR-21 level is associated with poor outcomes.

Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Blockade and Biomarkers of Response in Lymphoma: A Narrative Review

“…Among all miRNAs, microRNA-21 (miR-21) is one of the most frequently overexpressed miRNAs in solid tumors and B-NHL [ 187 ]. High plasma miR-21 levels have been associated with poor prognosis in several B-NHL subtypes (e.g., primary gastrointestinal DLBCL [ 188 ], DLBCL [ 189 ], Burkitt lymphoma [ 190 ], PCNSL [ 191 ]). miR-21 depletion may enhance antitumor activity through the polarization of macrophages into an M1-like phenotype; on the other hand, miR-21 also upregulates PD-L1 expression [ 192 ].…”

Immune Checkpoint Blockade and Biomarkers of Response in Lymphoma: A Case-Illustrated Narrative Review

“…Among all miRNAs, microRNA-21 (miR-21) is one of the most frequently overexpressed miRNAs in solid tumors and B-NHL [187]. High plasma miR-21 levels have been associated with poor prognosis in several B-NHL subtypes (e.g., primary gastrointesti-nal DLBCL [188], DLBCL [189], Burkitt lymphoma [190], PCNSL [191]). miR-21 depletion may enhance antitumor activity through the polarization of macrophages into an M1-like phenotype; on the other hand, miR-21 also upregulates PD-L1 expression [192].…”