OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to assess the expression of cell division cycle 7 (Cdc7) kinase and minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2) in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and explore their relationship with prognosis of DLBCL patients.

METHODSClinical data of 60 DLBCL patients treated in our hospital from 2008.1 to 2010.1 were collected. The expression levels of Cdc7 and MCM2 in peripheral blood and bone marrow were determined by real-time PCR. A statistical analysis was carried out to evaluate their association with prognosis in DLBCL patients.

RESULTSThe 2-year survival rate of patients with high expression of peripheral blood Cdc7 was 38.3% and those with low expression 65.4% (P = 0.001). The 2-year survival rate of patients with high expression of bone marrow Cdc7 was 37.2% and those with low expression was 75.5% (P = 0.032). The 2-year survival rate of patients with high expression of MCM2 in peripheral blood was 44.0% and those with low expression was 68.2% (P = 0.025). The 2-year survival rate of patients with high expression of MCM2 in bone marrow was 39.0% and those with low expression was 63.4% (P = 0.007). A poor disease specific survival was observed in DLBCL patients with high level expression of Cdc7 and MCM2.

CONCLUSIONSCdc7 and MCM2 expression can be used to assess tumor proliferation and may be useful as an additional marker in combination with conventional markers in prediction of the outcome of DLBCL patients. Moreover, the Cdc7 and MCM2 signal pathway might be useful as a new approach in the treatment of refractory DLBCL lymphoma patients.