Prognostic significance of peripheral blood absolute monocyte count and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio in anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood absolute monocyte count (AMC) and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) have strong prognostic value in various forms of lymphomas. It was found that higher AMC and lower LMR were associated with poor prognosis in B cell lymphoma. However, their prognostic significance in systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) remained to be determined.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the prognostic significance of AMC and LMR in sALCL.

METHODS: A total of 29 newly diagnosed patients with sALCL were retrospectively included in study, prognostic significance of AMC, LMR, performance status (PS), international prognostic index (IPI), prognostic index for T-cell lymphomas (PIT) and other indicators were analyzed.

RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed high AMC, LMR < 2.5, PS ⩾ 2, extranodal involvement, no response to treatment and B symptoms predicted inferior PFS; LMR < 2.5, no response to treatment, elevated LDH, IPI ⩾ 3, PIT ⩾ 2 and PS ⩾ 2 predicted inferior OS. High AMC, PS ⩾ 2 were independent prognostic factors for PFS; PS ⩾ 2, no response to treatment and elevated LDH were independent prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSIONS: AMC was an independent prognostic factor for PFS in sALCL, and LMR < 2.5 also indicated poor prognosis.