Serum C-reactive protein as an important prognostic variable in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant that is a promising biomarker in patients with cancer of many kinds. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate significant changes in CRP levels as a parameter for the response effect and long-term survival of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Serum CRP data were collected in 94 patients with DLBCL from October 2006 to August 2009 in Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University. Results were correlated with clinical data. The median CRP serum level in patients with DLBCL was 30.91 ± 53.35 in male and 22.39 ± 29.89 mg/L in female. Base line CRP levels were correlated with International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores (p = 0.03). Among the patients with an IPI score of 1-2, base line CRP levels were correlated with long-term survival (p = 0.001). Base line CRP levels were also correlated with OS (p = 0.001) and varied with different clinical stages (p = 0.03). The corresponding CRP levels in the patients with 2 cycles of chemotherapy were correlated with short-term treatment response (p = 0.003) and OS (p = 0.04) or TTP (p = 0.03). CRP serum levels can be used as additional prognostic parameter in patients with diffuse large B cell type lymphoma.