Retrospective analysis of protein kinase C-beta (PKC-β) expression in lymphoid malignancies and its association with survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas

Abstract Background Both mechanistic features and recent correlative findings suggest a potential role for protein kinase C-beta (PKC-β) in tumor pathogenesis, particularly in B-cell malignancies. To evaluate the role of this gene in lymphoid malignancies, we analyzed global gene expression data to quantify PKC-β expression across diagnostic groups and, when possible, determined correlations between PKC-β expression and survival. Results Our analysis showed that the level of PKC-β expression was highest in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and follicular lymphoma. Within diffuse large-B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), PKC-β expression was significantly higher in activated B-cell- like subtype than germinal center B-cell- like subtype (PConclusion We present a first detailed pharmacogenomics report comparing PKC-β mRNA expression across different lymphoid malignancies and evaluating it as an outcome predictor. Our findings suggest that DLBCL patients with elevated PKC-β have a worse prognosis, indicating that further evaluation of PKC-β as a chemotherapeutic target for lymphoid malignancies is warranted. Reviewers This article was reviewed by Dr. Pierre Pontarotti, Dr. Kateryna Makova, and Dr. Matthew Coleman (nominated by Dr. Sandrine Dudoit).