Unraveling the Immune Microenvironment in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Prognostic and Potential Therapeutic Implications

Abstract

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a multifaceted condition characterized by significant diversity in its molecular and pathological subtypes and clinical manifestation. Despite the progress made in the treatment of DLBCL through the development of novel drugs, an estimated one-third of patients encounter relapse or acquire refractory disease. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of DLBCL, a complex network consisting of cellular and noncellular components that engage in interactions with the tumor, is a parameter that is gaining increasing attention. The TME comprises both the immune and nonimmune microenvironments. The immune microenvironment comprises natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells (DCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), neutrophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and T and B lymphocytes. The nonimmune microenvironment consists of the extracellular matrix (ECM), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), mesenchymal stromal cells, and other molecules that are secreted. Despite ongoing research, the exact impact of these components and their interaction on the progression of the disease remains elusive. A comprehensive review of significant discoveries concerning the cellular and noncellular constituents, molecular characteristics, and treatment response and prognosis of the TME in DLBCL, as well as the potential targeting of the TME with novel therapeutic approaches, is provided in this article.

Keywords: DLBCL; TME; lymphoma; microenvironment.

Figure 1

Components of immune and nonimmune microenvironment in DLBCL.

Figure 2

The polarization of macrophages in tumor microenvironment. LPS: lipopolysaccharides, IFN: interferon, TNF: tumor necrosis factor, IL: interleukin, TGF: tumor growth factor, HLA: human leukocyte antigen.