Aim: To explore the association between FOXP1, BCL2, and BCL6 gene expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma tumor cells and their association with the presence of FOXP3 lymphocytes.
Methods: Samples of lymph nodes from 53 patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were taken at the time of the diagnosis and immunostained for CD10, MUM1, BCL6, BCL2, FOXP1, and FOXP3. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis was used for the detection of FOXP1, BCL2, and BCL6 gene abnormalities. The chi(2) test was used for data analysis.
Results: FOXP1 protein was detected in 28 cases, genetic abnormalities involving the FOXP1 locus were found in 19 cases, and both were present in 13 cases (chi(2)=7.157; P=0.028). FOXP3 positive cells were detected in 37 cases. There was a significant relationship between BCL2 expression and FOXP1 genetic abnormalities (chi(2)= 5.858; P=0.016) and between BCL2 expression and BCL2 genetic abnormalities (chi(2)= 6.349; P=0.012). There was also an association between BCL6 and FOXP1 genetic abnormalities (chi(2)=8.497;P=0.004).
Conclusion: There was an association between FOXP1 and BCL2. The presence of FOXP3 positive cells had no influence on any of the analyzed markers.