Tumor Sclerosis but Not Cell Proliferation or Malignancy Grade Is a Prognostic Marker in Advanced-Stage Follicular Lymphoma: The German Low Grade Lymphoma Study Group

Abstract

The presence of sclerosis within the lymphoma is a marker of poor overall survival that is independent of the FLIPI. The quantification of macrophage or absolute T-cell content, grading, and proliferation are of no help in predicting the outcome of FL. Future studies need to identify surrogate markers for the prognostic immune signatures identified by gene expression profiling. Most importantly, new prognostic markers need to be confirmed in patients treated within prospective trials.