Prognostic Value of Monocyte Percentage in Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Patients Treated with Rituximab and CHOP

Background Absolute monocyte count is a poor prognostic factor for a variety of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. However, the importance of monocyte percentage, particularly, in the newly discovered haematological malignancies, is not fully comprehended. So, we analysed the the prognosis role of monocyte percentage at diagnosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 169 DLBCL patients who treated with rituximab between 2018 to 2022 and followed at a same hospital. Both univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate the impact of monocyte percentage and clinical characteristics on DLBCL prognosis. Log-rank test analysis appertained to the Kaplan- Meier curve was also conducted to calculated progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results Among them, there were 53 and 16 cases of disease progression/ relapse and death at the time of follow-up to date, respectively. Using the normal upper limits as the cut-off, we divided monocyte percentage into two group(≤ 10%, > 10%)and low group viewed as reference group. Monocyte percentage were independently related to PFS and OS when monocyte percentage presented as continuous variables in three models. When compared with the reference group, high group has worse PFS (HR 2.54, 95% CI 1.08–5.99, p = 0.033), but no statistical difference was observed in OS in full adjustment model (p = 0.143). The results of Log-rank test suggested that both the PFS and OS of DLBCL patients in the high monocyte percentage group was significantly worse (P < 0.05). Conclusion This cohort study firstly raised a significant association between elevated monocyte percentage and a poor survival outcome.