Do Genes Predict the Chances of Cure for Lymphoma?

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is one of the most common types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). It affects thousands of individuals worldwide. Apart from the stage of cancer and blood test results, several other factors like the age and fitness (often termed the 'performance status') of the patient can impact the outcomes of treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. See Prognostic factors for DLBCL.

Scientists at the US National Cancer Insitute in Bethesda carried out research to test if the different genes in the tumor could also predict treatment outcomes. In a pathbreaking study they tested multiple 'gene expression signatures' - a scientific term for patterns of genes that are expressed in the tumor, in more than 400 patients with DLBCL. They found that using 3 important gene patterns it was possible to predict different treatment outcomes after the same treatment in the same disease.

Their research is likely to prompt further research on this issue and help doctors predict how an individual is likely to respond to treatment, and whether different 'gene signatures' should be treated differently.