Prognostic value of MYD88 L265P mutation in diffuse large B cell lymphoma via droplet digital PCR

To assess the prevalence and prognostic value of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MYD88) expression and mutational status in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a total cohort of 100 patients with DLBCL were studied using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (DDPCR), and the association between MYD88 expression and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. Overall, the positive expression rate of MYD88 protein was 38% and the gene mutation rate was 29%. The positive expression and mutation rates were the highest in the primary central nervous system lymphomas (58.33 and 66.67%, respectively). The coincidence rate of the results of MYD88 expression between IHC and DDPCR results was 73% (73/100). Univariate survival analysis showed that age (≥60 years old), high neutrophil/lymphocyte count ratio, low lymphocyte count, c‑Myc ≥40%, positive MYD88 protein expression, and gene mutation were associated with poorer prognosis rates. Multivariate survival analysis revealed that MYD88 expression was an independent prognostic factor affecting overall survival. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated that MYD88 mutation was a valuable index to evaluate the prognosis of DLBCL. DDPCR can be used as a method for detecting MYD88 mutations, although it was not completely consistent with the results of IHC.