Double-hit Signature with Abnormalities Predicts Poor Survival in Patients with Germinal Center Type Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Treated with R-CHOP.

PURPOSE

We performed detailed genomic analysis on 87 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of germinal center type (GCB DLBCL) to identify characteristics that are associated with survival in those treated with R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone).

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The cases were extensively characterized by combining the results of IHC, cell-of-origin gene expression profiling (GEP; NanoString), double-hit GEP (DLBCL90), FISH cytogenetic analysis for double/triple-hit lymphoma, copy-number analysis, and targeted deep sequencing using a custom mutation panel of 334 genes.

RESULTS

We identified four distinct biologic subgroups with different survivals, and with similarities to the genomic classifications from two large retrospective studies of DLBCL. Patients with the double-hit signature, but no abnormalities of , and those lacking mutation and/or translocation, had an excellent prognosis. However, patients with an EZB-like profile had an intermediate prognosis, whereas those with inactivation combined with the double-hit signature had an extremely poor prognosis. This latter finding was validated using two independent cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose a practical schema to use genomic variables to risk-stratify patients with GCB DLBCL. This schema provides a promising new approach to identify high-risk patients for new and innovative therapies.