BCL-XL Expression and Mutation in Non-Hodgkin′s Lymphoma

The study was aimed to investigate the BCL-XL expression and mutation, and its clinical significance in non-Hodgkin′s lymphoma. Lymphoma cells were selectively isolated by laser microdissection. BCL-XL expression from lymphoma tissue and microdissected lymphoma cells was measured by using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. BCL-XL mutation was analyzed by using direct sequencing of PCR products. The results showed that compared to 15 patients with reactive hyperplasia, BCL-XL was overexpressed in follicular lymphoma (n=30), both in lymphoma tissue (P=0.0064) and in microdissected lymphoma cells (P0.0001). No significant rise of BCL-XL expression was observed in patients with T-cell lymphoma (n=24) and diffuse large B cell lymphoma (n=24). In follicular lymphoma, high BCL-XL level was associated with multiple extranodal involvement (P= 0.0004), elevated lactate dehydrogenase level (P=0.0019), high-risk international prognostic index (P=0.0013) and a short overall survival time (P=0.0451). Mutation analysis revealed one synonymous mutation (Codon 109 ACA→ACC) in one case of follicular lymphoma patient. It is concluded that BCL-XL expression is closely correlated with progress of follicular lymphoma and prognosis of patients with follicular lymphoma. The value of BCL-XL expression as a prognostic marker in follicular lymphoma should be considered.