[Clinical and biological features of 8 patients with Richter's syndrome]

In order to evaluate the clinical, biological features and prognostic factors of Richter's syndrome (RS), 8 RS patients were analyzed retrospectively. The serological test, multiplex parameter flow cytometry, conventional cytogenetic analysis, FISH technique and PCR combined with sequence detection were used to detect the LDH, β(2)-MG, TK1, SF, CA125, ZAP-70, chromosome karyotype, ATM and p53 gene deletion, as well as +12 abnormality and IgVH mutation. The results indicated that 7 out of 8 patients transformed to diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and 1 patient transformed to Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Among 8 patients, LDH level in 7 patients, β(2)-MG level in 4 patients, SF level in 7 patients, CA-125 level in 4 patients and TK1 level in 1 patient exceeded the normal range. Meanwhile, ZAP-70 and CD38 were expressed positively in 4 and 7 out of 8 patients respectively. Unmutated IgVH was found in 5 patients, and 4 patients had the complex chromosome abnormalities. +12 and p53 deletion was found in 1 patient. 8 patients were divided into two groups (Binet A + B and Binet C), the mean time from diagnosis to progression was 98.5 months in Binet A + B group, compared with 38.3 months in Binet C group, there was significant difference between two groups (p = 0.021). Mean overall survival was 123.8 months and 49.8 months in two groups, respectively (p = 0.049). The mean survival after transformation was 34.5 months in Binet A + B group and 10.3 months in Binet C group. In conclusion, the level of LDH, β(2)-MG and SF are higher in RS patients in Binet C group, and so are the incidence of high expressed ZAP-70 and CD 38, unmutated IgVH. The clinical stage may be the risk and prognostic factors for RS transformation.