The contribution of MYC and PLK1 expression to proliferative capacity in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

• Published in: Leukemia & lymphoma Vol. 60; no. 13; pp. 3214 - 3224
• Main Authors: Oon, Ming Liang, Hoppe, Michal M., Fan, Shuangyi, Phyu, The, Phuong, Hoang M., Tan, Soo-Yong, Hue, Susan Swee-Shan, Wang, Shi, Poon, Li M., Chan, Hian L. E., Lee, Joanne, Chee, Yen L., Chng, Wee-Joo, de Mel, Sanjay, Liu, Xin, Jeyasekharan, Anand D., Ng, Siok-Bian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 10.11.2019
• Subjects: Cell Cycle Proteins - analysis; Cell Cycle Proteins - metabolism; Cell Proliferation; Diffuse large B cell lymphoma; fluorescence immunohistochemistry; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Ki-67 Antigen - analysis; Ki-67 Antigen - metabolism; Ki67; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - pathology; MYC; PLK1; Polo-Like Kinase 1; proliferation; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - analysis; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - analysis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc - analysis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc - metabolism; Software; Diffuse large B cell lymphoma; proliferation; Ki67; fluorescence immunohistochemistry; MYC; PLK1
• ISSN: 1042-8194; 1029-2403; 1029-2403
• DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2019.1633629

Polo-like kinase-1 (PLK1) regulates the MYC-dependent kinome in aggressive B-cell lymphoma. However, the role of PLK1 and MYC toward proliferation in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is unknown. We use multiplexed fluorescent immunohistochemistry (fIHC) to evaluate the co-localization of MYC, PLK1 and Ki67 to study their association with proliferation in DLBCL. The majority (98%, 95% CI 95-100%) of MYC/PLK1-double positive tumor cells expressed Ki67, underscoring the key role of the MYC/PLK1 circuit in proliferation. However, only 38% (95% CI 23-40%) and 51% (95% CI 46-51%) of Ki67-positive cells expressed MYC and PLK1, respectively. Notably, 40% (95% CI 26-43%) of Ki67-positive cells are MYC- and PLK-negative. A stronger correlation exists between PLK1 and Ki67 expression (R = 0.74, p < .001) than with MYC and Ki67 expression (R = 0.52, p < .001). Overall, the results indicate that PLK1 has a higher association than MYC in DLBCL proliferation and there are mechanisms besides MYC and PLK1 influencing DLBCL proliferation.