Expression and prognostic impact of CD73 in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract Treatment of relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) remains clinically challenging. Hence, early identification of high-risk patients is critical for treatment stratification. CD73 may exert an immunosuppressive effect by degrading adenosine monophosphate into adenosine, promoting cancer progression. Although increased CD73 expression is associated with reduced survival rates in various cancers, its role in cHL remains unclear. Therefore, in this retrospective study, we aimed to examine the expression of CD73, CD39, and PD-L1 in cHL and assess their clinical implications and prognostic value. Eighty-four patients with cHL hospitalized in the Hematology Department of the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University between May 2007 and May 2021 were included in this study. Of the 84 patients, 35 were male (41.7%), and the median age was 55 years (range: 16–88 years). Univariate analysis showed that relapsed/refractory disease was associated with advanced stage, low CD73 expression, ≥ 1 extranodal lesion, ≥ 3 nodal areas, and lactate dehydrogenase levels ≥ 240 UL. Patients with low CD73 expression had a higher incidence of relapsed/refractory disease (87.2% vs. 12.8%) and a poorer median progression-free survival (24.2 months vs not reached) than those with high CD73 expression. Low CD73 protein abundance in a multivariate model was identified as an independent negative prognostic indicator for cHL (hazard ratio: 0.413, 95% confidence interval: 0.088–1.94). Collectively, the results of this study suggest that CD73 is an independent prognostic immune biomarker for relapsed or refractory cHL and may serve as a novel therapeutic target.