FCRL1 and BAFF mRNA Expression as Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Expression Signatures Predict R-CHOP Therapy Response and Survival.

This study investigated the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic significance of Fc receptor-like 1 () and B-cell activating factor () mRNA expression in Egyptian patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) undergoing the standard R-CHOP regimen (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The results demonstrated that and mRNA expression were significantly elevated in DLBCL patients compared to healthy controls. A strong positive correlation existed between and expression levels. Diagnostic performance assessed through combined ROC curve analysis revealed that , and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) achieved perfect diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 1.0), demonstrating 100% sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Further prognostic analysis using COX regression identified elevated expression as the most significant predictor of poor clinical outcomes. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis reinforced this finding, with high expression showing significant associations with reduced overall survival (OS, = 0.031) and progression-free survival (PFS, = 0.038). The study underscores the potential utility of and mRNA as diagnostic markers for DLBCL, with emerging as a promising prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target enabling more tailored treatment approaches for DLBCL, the most common type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and patients receiving R-CHOP therapy.