Low peripheral blood B lymphocyte count predicts poor outcome in patients with multiple myeloma
Yuqi Wang,
Zhongxin Zheng,
Qiaoxi Kang,
Linjing Cai,
Shanshan Zhang,
Huan Chen,
Youhai Yuan,
Hanzhen Zhang,
Xiaolei Wei,
Ru Feng,
Yongqiang Wei
Affiliations
Yuqi Wang
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Zhongxin Zheng
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Qiaoxi Kang
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Linjing Cai
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Shanshan Zhang
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Huan Chen
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Youhai Yuan
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Hanzhen Zhang
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Xiaolei Wei
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Clinical Medical Research, Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
Ru Feng
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Yongqiang Wei
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Clinical Medical Research, Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China; Corresponding authors at: Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Previous evidence suggested that B lymphocytes may be involved in the progression and prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM). However, the prognostic value of peripheral B lymphocyte counts on MM before and after treatment in the novel agent era was rarely reported. Herein, we conducted a retrospective study in our center to detect peripheral B lymphocyte counts by flow cytometry in 110 patients with MM and explore the relation with survival. The B lymphocyte count was significantly lower in MM patients than healthy controls (p < 0.005). The cutoff value of B lymphocyte count at diagnosis was 49/μl in MM and 94 patients were divided into in high B lymphocyte group. Patients with low B lymphocyte count had a significant shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.025) and a trend of unfavorable overall survival (OS) (p = 0.053) at diagnosis and after 4 cycles' induction treatments. Furthermore, Multivariate analysis showed that low B lymphocyte count at diagnosis independent of ISS stage was a significantly inferior marker for predicting PFS (p = 0.027, hazard ratio(HR) 2.281, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.098–4.741) and a trend for OS (p = 0.083, HR 2.394, 95 % CI 0.896–6.160). In summary, these results suggested the low B lymphocyte count was associated with poor outcome in MM patients at diagnosis and after treatment in the novel agent era.
