High serum levels of B‐lymphocyte stimulator are associated with clinical–pathological features and outcome in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Summary B‐lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) acts as survival factor for B lymphocytes. As Hodgkin and Reed‐Sternberg (HRS) cells express receptors through which BLyS promotes their growth and chemotherapy resistance, we investgated whether this molecule was increased in sera from patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and whether it correlates with clinical‐pathological features and outcomes. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure soluble BLyS (sBLyS) in sera from 87 patients and 33 donors; higher levels were detected in patients (mean ± standard error 4493·9 ± 264·9 pg/ml vs. 2687·0 ± 200·9 pg/ml; P