Impact of Anti-nuclear Antibody Seropositivity on Clinicopathological Parameters, Treatment Response, and Survival in Lymphoma Patients

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Department of Immunopathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

2 Department of Clinical Hematology and Medical Oncology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

3 Department of Histopathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Abstract

Purpose: Lymphoproliferative disorders and autoimmune diseases both are interrelated. The high incidence of lymphoma in autoimmune diseases and frequent antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity in lymphoma patients have been observed. But the impact of ANA positivity on various clinical parameters and responses to therapy has not been elucidated properly. Methods: In the present study, 73 treatment-naive lymphoma patients were recruited prospectively and samples were collected at baseline and after completion of therapy for evaluation of ANA. Comparative analysis was performed for various parameters between ANA-positive and ANA-negative groups. Results: The prevalence of ANA at baseline was 27% in lymphoma patients which further increased to 35% after chemotherapy. The ANA-positive group had a significantly higher mean age (58±14.7 vs 47±19.9; p=0.01), early stage (77% vs 38%; p=0.02,) and infrequent B-symptoms (25% vs 52%; p=0.03) as compared to ANA-negative group. No significant difference was observed in the response to therapy and survival (both event-free and overall survival). The most frequent ANA pattern was speckled (50%) at baseline, and homogenous (42%) after the therapy. Conclusion: ANA is more frequent in lymphoma and increases further after chemotherapy. Higher mean age, early stage, and infrequent B symptoms were found to be significantly more frequent in ANA-positive lymphoma patients; however, only limited evidence supports its role as a prognostic marker or response to therapy. A wider study with appropriate follow-up data and molecular assay could shed light on the immunobiology of ANA production and its more defined clinical utility in lymphoma.

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Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 25, Issue 1
January 2024
Pages 73-78

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History

  • Receive Date: 09 May 2023
  • Revise Date: 21 September 2023
  • Accept Date: 18 January 2024

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