CHOP-R therapy overcomes the adverse prognostic influence of BCL-2 expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

BCL-2 protein expression correlates with shorter survival in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are treated with CHOP chemotherapy. We report a retrospective analysis of the prognostic significance of BCL-2 status in patients who received CHOP with the addition of rituximab (CHOP-R) for DLBCL. Patients over 15 years of age with de novo, HIV negative DLBCL, without CNS involvement, and known BCL-2 protein status were identified from the BCCA Lymphoid Cancer Database. BCL-2 tumour positivity was defined as over 50% of tumour cells with BCL-2 protein expression. 140 patients who received CHOP-R were analysed. The majority (59%) of patients were over 60 years of age. Disease stage distribution was limited (22%) and advanced (78%). BCL-2 protein expression was observed in 90 (64%) cases. IPI score was similar in both BCL-2 positive and negative cases. Median follow-up time for living patients is 40 months. BCL-2 status did not predict for either progression-free or overall survival. IPI score was predictive for progression-free survival but not overall survival. The addition of rituximab to CHOP chemotherapy negates the adverse prognostic influence of BCL-2 protein expression on progression free and overall survival in DLBCL.