Key clinical point: A novel web server that integrates genetic information may help improve the evaluation of proposed prognostic biomarkers in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Major finding: In a proof-of-concept analysis, the prognostic value of 23 biomarkers previously reported to be associated with survival were confirmed using the model.

Study details: An integrated analysis of clinical and molecular data for 1,100 patients with DLBCL.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.

COMMENTARY

While prognostic indices such as the International Prognostic Index (IPI) enable diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients to be stratified into risk groups, this information is not currently used to guide therapeutic decisions. In recent years, efforts have been made to use genetic differences to subcategorize DLBCL patients which will ideally lead to more specific and effective ways to treat them. This study investigated 23 biomarkers related to DLBCL in a large number of patients and confirmed an association with survival. A future application would be to use the information obtained from this type of analysis in therapeutic clinical trials in which DLBCL patients are treated with a particular targeted therapy based on their genetic signature.—Sarah Rutherford, MD