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Prognostic role of tissue expression and serum level of YKL-40 in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Background Serum YKL-40 levels are increased in various inflammatory disorders and a wide range of malignancies. Moreover, these elevated levels correlate with poor prognosis of patients with cancer, suggestive of YKL-40 as a prognostic biomarker. The effect of YKL-40 on non-Hodgkin lymphoma prognosis has not been fully explained. Aim The aim of this article was to study the serum levels and expression of YKL-40 in tissue specimens of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) for assessing its prognostic value and shedding light on their effect on survival. Patients and methods The study included 60 patients with DLBCL. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assess the serum YKL-40 levels. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect YKL-40 protein expression in lymphoma specimens. Results YKL-40 serum levels were significantly higher in patients with DLBCL when compared with the control group. YKL-40 protein was expressed in 66.67% of examined specimens. Receiver–operator curve analysis showed serum YKL-40 at a cutoff value of greater than or equal to 95.5 ng/ml had a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 95% for DLBCL diagnosis. In patients with DLBCL, progression-free and overall survival rates significantly decreased with increased serum levels of YKL-40 above the cutoff level as well as in YKL-40 positive expressed patients. Conclusion Serum YKL-40 and its tissue expression could be a valuable prognostic marker in patients with DLBCL.