The Prognostic Impact of Absolute Lymphocyte and Monocyte Counts at Diagnosis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in the Rituximab Era

Abstract

Background: A recent report showed that the combination of the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and the absolute monocyte count (AMC) at diagnosis gave a prognostic score in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, this model requires validation in other patient cohorts. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the prognostic impact of the combination of the ALC and the AMC at diagnosis in a cohort of 299 DLBCL patients who were treated in the rituximab era at a single institution. Results: In univariate analyses, an ALC ≤1.0 × 10⁹/l [4-year overall survival (OS) rate 47.0 vs. 79.4%; p < 0.001] and an AMC ≥0.63 × 10⁹/l (4-year OS rate 52.4 vs. 75.6%; p < 0.001) were associated with inferior OS, respectively. In multivariate analyses, an ALC ≤1.0 × 10⁹/l and an AMC ≥0.63 × 10⁹/l were significantly associated with inferior OS independently of the International Prognostic Index. Furthermore, the combination of ALC and AMC could identify patients with the dismal prognosis; the 4-year OS rates for patients with ALC ≤1.0 × 10⁹/l and AMC ≥0.63 × 10⁹/l were 18.8%. Conclusions: The combination of ALC and AMC at diagnosis may be useful for the prognostic stratification of patients with DLBCL.