Lymphoproliferative Disease

The product of proto-oncogene c-Myc is a potent activator of cell proliferation. The prognostic importance of the over expression of c-Myc and its transcriptional target Cdc25A in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients remains to be elucidated. To determine the role and the prognostic relevance of c-Myc and Cdc25A over expression in this group, we analyzed the expression of c-Myc oncoprotein by immunohistochemistry and Cdc25A mRNA by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the biopsied lymph nodes of 59 NHL patients. Over expression of c-Myc oncoprotein (P62) was observed in 32 out of 59 samples (54.2%) and Cdc25A in 36 out of 59 (60.1%).The percentage of c-Myc oncoprotein and Cdc25A mRNA over expression was significantly increased from low grade (4/12=25%, 4/16=25%) through intermediate grade (9/20=45%, 10/20=50%) to high grade lymphoma (19/23=82.6%, 22/23=95.6%) respectively (P=0.001 for both). The proportion of patients with positive c-Myc and Cdc25A over expression was significantly higher among patients with elevated serum lactic dehydrogenase (sLDH), and serum beta 2 microglobulin compared to those with normal levels (P