Biochemical markers in non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma stages III and IV and prognosis: A multivariate analysis

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Abstract
The prognostic value of different pretreatment laboratory and clinical findings at diagnosis was assessed in a series of 141 patients with generalized non-Hodgkin''s lymphoma. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis (Cox''s regression model) was performed, using serum analysis of deoxythymidine kinase (S-TK), .beta.2-microglobulin, lactic dehydrogenase, .alpha.1-acid glycoprotein = orosmucoid (S-.alpha.1 AGP), haptoglobin and ferritin. Hb and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured. The clinical variables were age, presence or absence of B-symptoms, histopathology (low-grade, intermediate grade and high-grade malignancy), and bone marrow involvement. Of the 8 biochemical markers, all except Hb and the ESR showed a significant relationship to survival. Among the clinical variables, this finding was made for B-symptoms and histopathology. Using a multivariate analysis on all variables, S-TK was found to be the best factor for predicting duration of survival. The only significant additional information was provided by S-.alpha.1 AGP. When only the clinical variables were taken into account, it was found that histopathology added significant information to that yielded by B-symptoms in the prediction of the survival time. When the biochemical variables were added to this model, only S-TK was of significant additional prognostic value.