Lymphoma has been described as the proliferation of lymphoid cells, arising as discrete tissue masses. 85% of all the malignant lymphoma are found to be NHL. Beta 2 microglobulin (B2M) is a small (11,800-dalton) protein, present in nearly all nucleated cells and biological fluids, including serum, urine, and synovial fluid. It forms the light chain subunit of the MHC class I antigen. The objective of this study was to determine the role of serum levels of B2M in the prognosis of patients with NHL so as to strengthen its potential role as a convenient non-invasive biomarker.
Fifty diagnosed cases of NHL and fifty age and sex matched healthy controls were taken. Serum levels of B2M were estimated in newly diagnosed patients before initiating treatment and in controls by ELISA. The patients were treated with CHOP Regimen (cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunomycin, oncovin, and prednisolone). Serum B2M was estimated again upon completion of six chemotherapeutic cycles.
Serum B2M levels significantly higher (
The data obtained shows that serum B2M test can be an important prognostic tool for assessment of treatment response in NHL patients, as serum levels were significantly higher in the pretreatment group than post treatment group; they also declined significantly only in patients achieving remission. Further, as B2M levels were also correlated with advanced stage, they may reflect the total amount or turnover of malignant cells in the body. Therefore, repeated determinations of serum B2M in these patients might be useful as an estimate of the residual malignant cell mass after therapy. Thus, whereas elevated B2M levels indicated high turnover of lymphoma cells, low levels after chemotherapy might indicate the achievement of remission in NHL cases.
PGIMS Rohtak
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All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.