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25-01-2024 | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | Original Article

Epiregulin: A new prognostic molecule in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Authors: Ismail Demir, Ozden Yildirim Akan, Ferda Bilgir, Ismail Yilmaz, Giray Bozkaya, Oktay Bilgir

Published in: Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -)

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Abstract

Background

Epiregulin is a molecule that plays a role in cell proliferation, tumor development, inflammation, and angiogenesis in malignant diseases.

Aim

Our study aims to reveal, for the first time, the predictive value of this molecule in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and its association with disease stage, cell type, and extranodal involvement.

Methods

The study is an observational case–control trial involving 60 newly diagnosed NHL patients and 60 healthy individuals (control group) between 18 and 75 years old. Demographic characteristics of all volunteers, stages of patients’ illnesses and lymphoma cell types, hemogram, biochemistry tests, beta 2-microglobulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and epiregulin levels were measured and statistically evaluated.

Results

Epiregulin levels were significantly higher in NHL patients compared to the control group (P < 0.0001). Similarly, a significant increase in epiregulin levels was observed in advanced NHL patients. Furthermore, the most common NHL subgroup within the NHL group, diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), and the subgroup with extranodal involvement also had significantly higher levels of epiregulin. A positive correlation was found between the epiregulin molecule and CRP, beta 2-microglobulin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in NHL patients.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that serum epiregulin levels, discovered to increase in NHL patients for the first time, may be an independent predictive molecule in an advanced stage, extranodal involvement, and the DLBCL subtype of this disease. Epiregulin positively correlates with prognostic molecules such as beta 2-microglobulin, LDH, and CRP. Illuminating its potential role in NHL pathogenesis could make epiregulin a vital drug target for treatment.
Literature
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go back to reference Lindvall C, Hou M, Komurasaki T et al (2003) Molecular characterization of human telomerase reverse transcriptase-immortalized human fibroblasts by gene expression profiling: activation of the epiregulin gene. Cancer Res 63(8):1743–1747PubMed Lindvall C, Hou M, Komurasaki T et al (2003) Molecular characterization of human telomerase reverse transcriptase-immortalized human fibroblasts by gene expression profiling: activation of the epiregulin gene. Cancer Res 63(8):1743–1747PubMed
Metadata
Title
Epiregulin: A new prognostic molecule in non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors
Ismail Demir
Ozden Yildirim Akan
Ferda Bilgir
Ismail Yilmaz
Giray Bozkaya
Oktay Bilgir
Publication date
25-01-2024
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -)
Print ISSN: 0021-1265
Electronic ISSN: 1863-4362
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-024-03609-5