Peripheral blood CD8 + T-cell count at diagnosis predicts prognosis in R-CHOP-treated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma...

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Immunology
• Oncology

Background:

• The prognostic value of peripheral blood lymphocyte counts in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with R-CHOP is known.
• However, the specific role of CD8+ T-cell counts (CD8c) in predicting outcomes for these patients remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prognostic significance of initial peripheral blood CD8+ T-cell counts (CD8c) in patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL receiving R-CHOP therapy.
• To determine if CD8c can serve as an independent predictor of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 315 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP from January 2018 to September 2023.
• Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of initial CD8c and other clinical parameters.
• An optimal CD8c cut-off value was determined to be 264.5×10^6/L.

Main Results:

• Low initial CD8c (<264.5×10^6/L) was significantly associated with improved 5-year PFS (88.78% vs 49.18%, p<0.001) and OS (84.02% vs 31.25%, p<0.001).
• Multivariate analysis confirmed CD8c as an independent prognostic factor for both PFS and OS.
• Low CD8c groups showed superior survival outcomes, even with other poor prognostic factors present, and demonstrated interactions with lactate dehydrogenase levels.

Conclusions:

• Initial peripheral blood CD8+ T-cell counts are an independent predictor of outcomes in DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP.
• CD8c may enhance existing prognostic models for DLBCL, highlighting the importance of host immune status.
• Further independent validation in external cohorts is necessary to confirm these findings.