S8809-S9800-S9911TM- Biological Markers in Patients With Follicular Lymphoma Treated on Clinical Trial SWOG-8809, SWOG-9800, or SWOG-9911

Assessment of MUM1 Expression, Lymphoma-Associated Macrophages, and Regulatory T-Cells in Follicular Lymphoma: Prognostic Markers in SWOG S8809 and S9800/S9911 Trials Representing Pre-and Post-Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Protocols

RATIONALE: Studying samples of tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors identify and learn more about biomarkers related to cancer. It may also help doctors predict how patients respond to treatment.

PURPOSE: This laboratory study is examining biological markers in patients with follicular lymphoma treated on clinical trial SWOG-8809, SWOG-9800, or SWOG-9911.

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the prognostic significance of MUM-1, lymphoma-associated macrophages, and regulatory T cells in patients with follicular lymphoma treated on clinical trials SWOG-8809, SWOG-9800, or SWOG-9911 representing pre- and post-monoclonal antibody therapy protocols.
• Determine whether these factors have similar prognostic significance in patients treated with chemotherapy alone vs chemotherapy and monoclonal antibody therapy on these clinical trials.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Previously collected tissue samples from patients are analyzed by immunohistochemistry, gene expression profiling, and quantitative analysis for MUM1 expression, lymphoma-associated macrophages, FOXP3-positive regulatory T cells, CD68, and CD163.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 318 samples will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of follicular lymphoma

• Previously treated on any of the following clinical trials:

  • SWOG-8809
  • SWOG-9800
  • SWOG-9911

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics