Objective: To define the expressions of p53, Bcl-2, and p-glycoprotein and prognostic impact in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

Material and Method: Adult patients with newly diagnosed as PTCL were reviewed from 2001 to 2012. Clinical parameters and outcome data were extracted. The specimens were stained for p53, Bcl-2, and p-glycoprotein. The results were analyzed for association with disease stage, International Prognostic Index (IPI), Prognostic Index for T-cell lymphoma (PIT), overall response rate (ORR), and overall survival (OS).

Results: Of eligible 159 patients (113 males, 46 females), median age was 53 years old. The histological subtypes included peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL, NOS) 35.8%, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) 18.2%, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKL) 17.0%, subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) 12.6%, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) 11.3%, anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) 4.4%, and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) 0.6%. Tissue samples were obtained for analysis in 135 patients. P53, Bcl-2, and p-glycoprotein were positive in 87%, 49%, and 28%, respectively. Median OS was 25 months. The expressions of p53, Bcl-2, and p-glycoprotein were not significantly correlated with advanced stage, high prognostic scores, ORR, and OS. However, Bcl-2 expression was statistically associated with histological subtypes. From Cox regression analyses, advanced stage, high prognostic scores, and histological subtypes were independent prognostic factors for OS.

Conclusion: The biomarker expressions varied in different types of PTCL and did not show any correlation with prognostic factors, ORR, or OS.

Keywords: P53, Bcl-2, P-glycoprotein, Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, Prognosis