Subclassification of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas according to the Kiel classification: distinction of centroblastic and immunoblastic lymphomas is a significant prognostic risk factor

Blood. 1997 Apr 1;89(7):2291-7.

Abstract

Among high-grade malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas the updated Kiel classification identifies three major B-cell entities: centroblastic (CB), B-immunoblastic (B-IB), and B-large cell anaplastic (Ki-1+) (now termed anaplastic large cell [CD30+], [B-ALC]). The clinical prognostic relevance of this distinction was evaluated in a randomized prospective treatment trial (COP-BLAM/IMVP-16 regimen randomly combined +/- radiotherapy in complete responders) conducted in adult (age 15 to 75) patients with Ann Arbor stage II-IV disease (n = 219) diagnosed by optimal histomorphology (Giemsa staining) and by immunohistochemistry. Overall survival was significantly better in CB lymphoma as compared to B-IB (P = .0002) or B-ALC (P = .046). Relapse-free survival was worse for B-IB (P = .0003) as compared to CB lymphomas. The prognostic differences between CB and B-IB were confirmed by multivariate analyses including the risk factors of the International Index. Overall survival was significantly determined by performance status (P = .0003), serum-LDH (P = .036), and B-IB histology subtype (P = .036). Relapse-free survival was influenced by age (P = .007) and histological subtype (P = .007). Thus, the diagnosis of the CB and B-IB lymphomas by the histological criteria of the Kiel classification was identified as an independent prognostic factor in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ifosfamide / administration & dosage
  • Life Tables
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / classification*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / mortality*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / radiotherapy
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / mortality*
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / radiotherapy
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Immunoblastic / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Immunoblastic / mortality*
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Immunoblastic / radiotherapy
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prednisone / administration & dosage
  • Procarbazine / administration & dosage
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Bleomycin
  • Procarbazine
  • Vincristine
  • Etoposide
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Ifosfamide
  • Prednisone
  • Methotrexate

Supplementary concepts

  • COP-BLAM protocol
  • IMVP-16 protocol