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. 1994 Feb;69(2):347–351. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1994.63

Peripheral blood involvement in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma detected by clonal gene rearrangement as a biological prognostic marker.

L R Hiorns 1, J Nicholls 1, J P Sloane 1, A Horwich 1, S Ashley 1, M Brada 1
PMCID: PMC1968683  PMID: 8297733

Abstract

Peripheral blood from 67 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was examined at initial diagnosis for the presence of circulating lymphoma cells by DNA hybridisation using immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene probes. Clonal gene rearrangement was found in 31% (21/67) of patients and correlated with clinical stage, histological grade and bone marrow involvement. Clinical stage and the presence of lymphoma cells in peripheral blood were prognostic factors for progression-free survival in all patients on univariate analysis, but the detection of lymphoma cells was not independent of stage. It was also not a significant predictor for survival. In patients with intermediate- and high-grade lymphoma, the detection of lymphoma cells in peripheral blood was a significant prognostic factor for progression-free survival (PFS) and survival only on univariate analysis. The 3-year PFS was 17% in patients with circulating lymphoma cells compared with 75% if these were absent (P < 0.05). The presence of lymphoma cells in peripheral blood is associated with extensive disease and may be a biological marker of poor disease control. Sensitive techniques of detection should form part of large prospective studies in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

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Selected References

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