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Epiregulin: A new prognostic molecule in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

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Abstract

Background

Epiregulin is a molecule that plays a role in cell proliferation, tumor development, inflammation, and angiogenesis in malignant diseases.

Aim

Our study aims to reveal, for the first time, the predictive value of this molecule in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and its association with disease stage, cell type, and extranodal involvement.

Methods

The study is an observational case–control trial involving 60 newly diagnosed NHL patients and 60 healthy individuals (control group) between 18 and 75 years old. Demographic characteristics of all volunteers, stages of patients’ illnesses and lymphoma cell types, hemogram, biochemistry tests, beta 2-microglobulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and epiregulin levels were measured and statistically evaluated.

Results

Epiregulin levels were significantly higher in NHL patients compared to the control group (P < 0.0001). Similarly, a significant increase in epiregulin levels was observed in advanced NHL patients. Furthermore, the most common NHL subgroup within the NHL group, diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), and the subgroup with extranodal involvement also had significantly higher levels of epiregulin. A positive correlation was found between the epiregulin molecule and CRP, beta 2-microglobulin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in NHL patients.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that serum epiregulin levels, discovered to increase in NHL patients for the first time, may be an independent predictive molecule in an advanced stage, extranodal involvement, and the DLBCL subtype of this disease. Epiregulin positively correlates with prognostic molecules such as beta 2-microglobulin, LDH, and CRP. Illuminating its potential role in NHL pathogenesis could make epiregulin a vital drug target for treatment.

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Data availability

Data and materials are reachable from hospital automation information systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Health Sciences University, 35170, Karabaglar, Izmir, Turkey

    Ismail Demir, Ozden Yildirim Akan & Oktay Bilgir

  2. Department of Allergy and Immunology, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir Kâtip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey

    Ferda Bilgir

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Izmir Kâtip Celebi University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey

    Ismail Yilmaz

  4. Department of Biochemistry, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Health Sciences University, Izmir, Turkey

    Giray Bozkaya

Authors
  1. Ismail Demir
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  2. Ozden Yildirim Akan
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  3. Ferda Bilgir
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  4. Ismail Yilmaz
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  5. Giray Bozkaya
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  6. Oktay Bilgir
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Contributions

Conceptualization: ID, OYA, OB; data curation: ID, OYA, GB; formal analysis: ID, IY, GB; investigation: ID, IY, FB; methodology: ID, FB, OB; supervision: OB, IY, GB; visualization: ID, IY, OYA; writing—original draft: ID, FB, IY; writing—review and editing: ID, IY, FB, OYA. All authors have read and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Ismail Demir.

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This study was reviewed and approved by the institutional review board for exemption.

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Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Demir, I., Akan, O.Y., Bilgir, F. et al. Epiregulin: A new prognostic molecule in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Ir J Med Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-024-03609-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-024-03609-5

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