Abstract
We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of serum beta 2-microglobulin in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). A cohort study of PTCL-NOS patients (n = 147) was conducted. An elevated serum beta 2-microglobulin level was associated with the presence of previously identified predictors of a poor prognosis for PTCL-NOS. Patients with an elevated serum beta 2-microglobulin level exhibited a significantly worse progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analyses revealed that an elevated serum beta 2-microglobulin level was independently associated with a shorter PFS and OS. A new prognostic index incorporating the serum beta 2-microglobulin level allowed for the stratification of patients into three distinct risk subgroups. The index was validated to stratify patients with distinct survival outcomes in an independent cohort of PTCL-NOS (n = 89). In conclusion, serum beta 2-microglobulin level is an independent prognostic factor in patients with PTCL-NOS. Our beta 2-microglobulin-based prognostic index for PTCL-NOS deserves further investigation and validation.