Plasma fibrinogen level as possible prognostic biomarker in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Although many studies have assessed numerous molecular and immunohistochemical prognostic markers for diffuse large Bcell lymphoma (DLBCL), there is always a need for simple widely available markers. This study was planned to illustrate the clinical significance of baseline plasma fibrinogen levels in DLBCL patients.

We prospectively investigated 76 DLBCL patients treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and hostacortine between August 2015 and February 2018. Baseline plasma fibrinogen level was measured and correlated with patients' clinical features, laboratory parameters, response to therapy, progression-free survival and overall survival.

Significant association between fibrinogen level and clinical features such as the presence of B symptoms (P < .001) and clinical stage (P < .001) was observed while no association with age, gender, number of involved extranodal sites, performance status and international prognostic index (IPI) was found. Baseline fibrinogen level was significantly related to laboratory parameters including red cell distribution width (RDW) (P < .001), platelet count (P = .02), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (P = .009) and B2-microglobulin (P = .008). No statistically significant correlations were detected between baseline fibrinogen levels; and response to therapy, progression-free survival and overall survival.

Baseline plasma fibrinogen level did not show prognostic significance for DLBCL patients, although it was associated with patients' clinical features and laboratory parameters. Being simple, cheap and widely available laboratory test, its use should be encouraged routinely in clinical practice to precisely clarify its predictive merit.