Interim positron emission tomography scan associated with international prognostic index and germinal center B cell-like signature as prognostic index in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Abstract[18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging is essential to optimize the initial staging and to predict the prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). To assess the relationship between the germinal center B cell-like/activated B cell-like (GCB/ABC) classification and PET scan features in DLBCL, 57 cases treated with rituximab and a cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP)/CHOP-like regimen were analyzed. The expression profile of 18 GCB/ABC related genes and five genes coding for glucose transporters (GLUTs) was determined from frozen tissues using DASL (cDNA-mediated Annealing, Selection, Ligation and extension) technology. According to the gene expression profile (GEP), 30 cases of DLBCL were classified as GCB subtype (2-year progression-free survival [PFS] 76%) and 27 cases as ABC subtype (2-year PFS 51%, p = 0.03). Using a semiquantitative assessment of the decrease in standard uptake value (SUV) at interim PET performed after 3–4 c...