Serum hepatitis B core antibody as the prognostic factor for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), strongly associated with viral infections. Although the link between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and DLBCL is well-documented, effective clinical markers reflecting HBV-associated DLBCL remain scarce. This study aims to identify prognostic indicators for HBV-associated DLBCL through retrospective analysis of the relationship among tissue marker molecules, HBV serum markers, and clinical prognosis in DLBCL patients. Here, we found the results that DLBCL patients who tested positive for hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) had significantly reduced overall survival (OS) rates compared with those who tested negative. Additionally, a strong correlation was observed between an elevated HBcAb-positive rate and reduced expression of the CD23 molecule in DLBCL tissue samples. Stratifying DLBCL patients based on combined HBcAb-CD23 status revealed significant disparities in OS rates. Therefore, integrating CD23 with HBcAb could be applied to prognostic assessments for individuals with HBV-associated DLBCL. This study identifies novel indicators and diagnostic strategies for HBV-associated DLBCL.IMPORTANCEThis study identifies hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) as a significant prognostic indicator for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The findings reveal that patients with DLBCL with positive HBcAb have significantly reduced overall survival rates. Additionally, a strong negative correlation is observed between serum HBcAb and the expression of the CD23 molecule in DLBCL tissues. These results highlight the potential of integrating HBcAb and CD23 as prognostic markers in clinical assessments of HBV-associated DLBCL, offering new insights for risk stratification and treatment planning in this patient population.