Serum beta-2 microglobulin in malignant lymphomas: an old but powerful prognostic factor

Changhoon Yoo; Dok Hyun Yoon; Cheolwon Suh

doi:10.5045/br.2014.49.3.148

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Blood Res 2014; 49(3):

Published online September 25, 2014

https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2014.49.3.148

Serum beta-2 microglobulin in malignant lymphomas: an old but powerful prognostic factor

Changhoon Yoo^#, Dok Hyun Yoon^#, and Cheolwon Suh^*

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Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence to : Correspondence to Cheolwon Suh, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea. Tel: +82-2-3010-3209, Fax: +82-2-3010-6961, csuh@amc.seoul.kr

Received: April 10, 2014; Revised: June 30, 2014; Accepted: July 23, 2014

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

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Abstract

Beta-2 microglobulin is synthesized in all nucleated cells and forms the light chain subunit of the major histocompatibility complex class I antigen. Despite its potential role as a convenient and non-invasive prognostic indicator in malignant lymphomas, the influence of serum β2 microglobulin is currently underestimated, and therapeutic decision making is rarely affected by this marker. Recent studies that included relatively large numbers of patients with specific histologic subtypes showed that serum β2 microglobulin is a potent prognostic marker in malignant lymphomas. In follicular lymphoma, this effort led to the incorporation of serum β2 microglobulin as an indicator in a new prognostic model. In this review, we summarize the current evidence supporting the role of serum β2 microglobulin as a prognostic factor in patients with malignant lymphoma and discuss perspectives for future investigations.

Keywords Beta-2 microglobulin, Lymphoma, Prognostic factor

Article

Review Article

Blood Res 2014; 49(3): 148-153

Published online September 25, 2014 https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2014.49.3.148

Serum beta-2 microglobulin in malignant lymphomas: an old but powerful prognostic factor

Changhoon Yoo^#, Dok Hyun Yoon^#, and Cheolwon Suh^*

Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence to: Correspondence to Cheolwon Suh, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, Korea. Tel: +82-2-3010-3209, Fax: +82-2-3010-6961, csuh@amc.seoul.kr

Received: April 10, 2014; Revised: June 30, 2014; Accepted: July 23, 2014

Abstract

Keywords: Beta-2 microglobulin, Lymphoma, Prognostic factor

Abstract

Table 1 . Serum β2 microglobulin in unselected NHL subtypes..

Abbreviations: DFS, disease free survival; NHL, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma; HL, Hodgkin Lymphoma; OS, overall survival; ULN, upper limit of normal..

Table 2 . Serum β2 microglobulin in aggressive NHL subtypes..

^a)Number in parenthesis is the number of overall patients in the study..

Abbreviations: B2M, beta-2 microglobulin; NHL, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; FFS, failure-free survival; OS, overall survival; ULN, upper limit of normal..

Table 3 . Serum β2 microglobulin in indolent NHL subtypes..

^a)Number in parenthesis is the number of overall patients in the study..

Abbreviations: B2M, beta-2 microglobulin; CSS, cause-specific survival; EFS, event-free survival; MALT, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue; PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival; ULN, upper limit of normal..

Table 4 . Serum β2 microglobulin in NK or T-cell NHL subtypes..

^a)Number in parenthesis is the number of overall patients in the study..

Abbreviations: B2M, beta-2 microglobulin; ENKTL, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma; PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival; ULN, upper limit of normal..

Table 5 . Serum β2 microglobulin in Hodgkin lymphoma..

^a)Number in parenthesis is the number of overall patients in the study..

Abbreviations: B2M, beta-2 microglobulin; FFS, failure-free survival; PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival; TTF, time-to-treatment failure; ULN, upper limit of normal..