Assessment of Beta 2 Microglobulin In Patients of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma As A Prognostic Marker

INTRODUCTION : Lymphoma is the proliferation of lymphoid cells, which arise as discrete tissue masses. It has been broadly divided into non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). NHL contributes to about 85% of all malignant lymphomas. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a heterogeneous disease with a variety of molecular aberrations and diverse clinical outcomes. Beta-2 microglobulin (?2M) is synthesized in all nucleated cells and forms the light chain subunit of the MHC class I. AIM: To determine the role of ?2M in the prognosis of patients with DLBCL so as to validate its role as a convenient biomarker. METHOD : 30 diagnosed patients with DLBCL and 30 age and sex matched healthy controls were taken. ?2M was estimated in newly diagnosed patients before initiating treatment and also in controls by ELISA. DLBCL patients were given chemotherapy following the CHOP Regimen (cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunomyicin, oncovin, and prednisolone). Six chemotherapeutic cycles were given. Serum ?2M was repeated in cases after completion of chemotherapy. RESULTS: The levels of serum ?2M levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with DLBCL (P