OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of TIM-3 and LAG-3 in extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL), and evaluate the clinical and prognostic significance of TIM-3 and LAG-3 in ENKTL.

METHODS

A total of 61 human paraffin-embedded specimens including 41 ENKTL and 20 rhinitis were involved. We performed immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of TIM-3 and LAG-3. We analyzed correlation between expression of TIM-3 and LAG-3 and clinicopathological features of ENKTL.

RESULTS

TIM-3 was positively expressed in 95 (39/41) ENKTL compared with 55% (11/20) in rhinitis, LAG-3 was positively expressed in 95 (39/41) ENKTL compared with 45% (9/20) in rhinitis. A positive correlation was found between TIM-3 and LAG-3. TIM-3 and LAG-3 had no significant correlation with ENKTL patients' age, gender, international prognostic index (IPI) score, B symptoms, LDH level, Ann Arbor stage and treatment regimens. High expression of TIM-3, high IPI score, elevated LDH level and late Ann Arbor stage were shown to be correlated with worse progression free survival (PFS). A multivariate COX regression model show that TIM-3 high expression rate was an independent prognostic factor for ENKTL patients' PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that TIM-3 might be a promising predictive indicator for the ENKTL patients.