Objective: De novo CD5-positive (CD5+) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has different clinical characteristics compared with CD5-negative (CD5-) DLBCL. However, few studies have been reported in Chinese cohorts. We investigated the clinical features and prognosis of patients with CD5+ DLBCL and summarized the related literature.
Methods: Data from 245 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL were retrospectively assessed.
Results: Thirty-one and 214 patients were diagnosed with CD5+ DLBCL or CD5- DLBCL, respectively. In the CD5+ DLBCL group, there were significantly higher proportions of patients with older age (≥60 years), International Prognostic Index (IPI) ≥3, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores ≥ 2, bone marrow involvement, positive B-cell lymphoma 2 expression, and positive MYC expression. Survival analysis showed that CD5+ DLBCL had a markedly poorer 2-year progression-free survival than CD5- DLBCL (18.2% vs. 56.2%). Univariate analysis indicated that age ≥60 years, ECOG score ≥ 2, IPI ≥ 3, B symptoms, and no rituximab-based treatment were poor predictive factors for overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis revealed that B symptoms and no rituximab-based treatment, but not positive CD5 expression, were independent factors for OS.
Conclusions: Patients with CD5+ DLBCL had heterogeneous clinical characteristics and poor survival. The development of more targeted and effective therapies is needed.
Keywords: CD5; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; heterogeneous; predictive factor; prognosis; survival.