OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression and clinical significance of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily protein CD30 in diffuse large B cell lymhoma (DLBCL).

METHODSThe CD30 expression, clinical characteristics and prognosis of 63 patients with DLBCL, NOS out of 149 patients with DLBCL admitted in our hospital between January 2008 and December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSno significant relationship existed between CD30 expression and clinical features, such as age, sex, B symptoms, staging, ECOG PS, LDH level, extranodal site involvement, IPI, GCB or non GCB type, bone marrow involvement. By univariate analysis, the clinical factors associated with general OS and EFS, included CD30, ECOG PS, B symptoms, extranodal site involvement, LDH level, IPI, bone marrow involvement and rituximab. Univariate analysis in GCB DLBCL indicated that CD30 had no significant effect on OS and EFS. However, univariate analysis in non-GCB DLBCL indicated CD30 was associated with longer OS (P=0.037) and showed a tendency of better EFS (P=0.067). In multivariate analysis, IPI and CD30 were independent prognostic factors for OS (IPI: P=0.000, 95%CI 0.042-0.374, CD30: P=0.044, 95%CI 1.055-60.613), and IPI also was independent prognostic factors for EFS (P=0.000, 95%CI 0.040-0.360). CD30+ and DLBCL have a tendency of better EFS (P=0.050, 95%CI 0.996-56.501).

CONCLUSIONCD30 expression level correlates with the prognosis of DLBCL and has a certain clinical value, which may be a new prognostic index of DLBCL.