Hypoalbuminemia predicts inferior outcome in patients with AIDS-related lymphoma

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of serum albumin in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related lymphoma (ARL) remains covered. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed de novo ARL patients from 2013 to 2019 across three centers. Factors correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in Kaplan–Meier, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: A total of 86 ARL patients were enrolled with a median follow-up of 34 months. In the cohort, the OS and 2-year PFS rates were 37.5% and 35.4%, respectively. In multivariate models, older age (PFS, hazard ratios [HR] = 1.035, p = 0.037; OS, HR = 1.034, p = 0.041) and hypoalbuminemia (OS, HR = 0.910, p = 0.038) predicted inferior survival. ARL patients with hypoalbuminemia showed worse OS and 2-year PFS (p = 0.028 and p = 0.01, respectively), which was associated with poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) and higher International Prognosis Index (IPI) score. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, serum albumin at diagnosis is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in AIDS-related lymphoma.