Prognostic Value of Serum β-2 Microglobulin in Low-Grade Lymphoma
Authors: Patrick Litam, Forrest Swan, Fernando Cabanillas, Susan L. Tucker, Peter McLaughlin, Fredrick B. Hagemeister, Maria A. Rodriguez, William S. Velasquez
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1991)

Article15 May 1991Prognostic Value of Serum β-2 Microglobulin in Low-Grade LymphomaPatrick Litam, MD, Forrest Swan, MD, Fernando Cabanillas, MD, Susan L. Tucker, PhD, Peter McLaughlin, MD, Fredrick B. Hagemeister, MD, Maria A. Rodriguez, MD, William S. Velasquez, MDPatrick Litam, MD, Forrest Swan, MD, Fernando Cabanillas, MD, Susan L. Tucker, PhD, Peter McLaughlin, MD, Fredrick B. Hagemeister, MD, Maria A. Rodriguez, MD, William S. Velasquez, MDAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-114-10-855 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptObjective: To evaluate serum beta-2 microglobulin (β-2M) and other prognostic indicators in previously untreated low-grade lymphoma.Design: Cohort study of 80 patients with uniformly treated low-grade lymphoma, followed for a median of 21 months. These 80 patients, all of whom had serum /3-2M drawn within 2 weeks before starting therapy, were derived from a cohort of 119 previously untreated patients entered into one of three clinical trials.Setting: Tertiary referral cancer center.Patients: Eighty previously untreated stage I to IV patients (mean age, 55 years).Intervention: Treatment was given according to Ann Arbor stage: Patients in stage IV were treated with CHOP-bleomycin and maintained on interferon therapy; those in stage III received CHOP-bleomycin and radiotherapy; and those in stages I and II received COP-bleomycin and radiotherapy.Measurements: Outcome was determined by assessing complete remission rate and time to treatment failure. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used.Results: The complete remission rate for patients with a β-2M level of 3. 0 mg/L or greater was 36% compared with 71% for those with a level of less than 3.0 mg/L. Using multivariate analysis that tested /3-2M as a continuous variable, it was selected as the most significant factor for complete response. The adjusted odds ratio was 0.285 (95% CI, 0.101 to 0.809). The Ann Arbor stage had marginal significance (adjusted odds ratio, 0.435; CI, 0.150 to 1.263). For time to treatment failure, β-2M was the only variable retained in the multivariate model. At 42 months, no patient with a β-2M level of 3.0 mg/L or greater was projected to be in remission as compared with 85% of patients with a β-2M level of less than 3.0 mg/L.Conclusions:The serum β-2M level is a good predictor of complete response and time to treatment failure. A larger number of patients should be studied to clarify the role of other potentially independent variables such as stage and age....References1. Peterson P, Cunningham B, Berggard I, and Edelman G. 2-Microglobulin-a free immunoglobulin domain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1972;69:1697-701. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. 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Velasquez, MDFrom the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. For current author addresses, see end of text. 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