Integrated genomic and tumor microenvironment subtyping refines risk stratification in primary central nervous system lymphoma
Abstract Purpose: Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) remains a therapeutic challenge due to limited precision medicine approaches and suboptimal risk stratification. We aimed to establish an integrated classification framework by combining genomic and tumor microenvironment (TME) profiling. Experimental Design: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) were performed on 68 treatment-naïve PCNSL patients. Unsupervised clustering of 271 genomic features (mutations, structural variants, and copy number variations) defined molecular subtypes. TME classification leveraged CD8⁺T/M2 macrophage ratios. Results: We identified four genomic subtypes with distinct driver alterations: C1 (DNA repair defects: BRIP1/MTAP mutations and 3p/16q amps), C2 (apoptotic dysregulation: BCL2/IRF4 mutations), C3 (BCR- MAPK hyperactivation: CD79A/CARD11/EGFR mutations), and C4 (epigenetic dysregulation and mismatch repair deficiency: KMT2A/TET2/MSH6 mutations). These subtypes stratified overall survival (OS, p=0.02), with C4 exhibiting the poorest median OS (26 months). TME classification by CD8⁺T/M2 ratio revealed three groups: High (>1.5), Intermediate (0.8–1.5), and Low (<0.8). Unexpectedly, the Intermediate group showed the worst outcomes (5-year OS: 10% vs. 75% in High and 43% in Low; p=0.005). Integration exposed a lethal C4/Intermediate-TME subgroup (n=6, 9.8%) with catastrophic median OS of 3.0 months (HR=7.24, p=0.006). Multivariate analysis confirmed both systems as independent prognostic factors. Nomograms incorporating genomic/TME subtypes, Han's classification, and progression of disease within 24 months (POD24) achieved robust prediction (C-index >0.78). Conclusions: Our integrated classification reveals a high-risk biology in C4/Intermediate-TME PCNSL and provides a clinically deployable framework for risk-adapted therapy. The CD8⁺T/M2 ratio refines TME evaluation beyond conventional paradigms, enabling biomarker-driven trials.
Authors
- Teng Yu
- Wen Lei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5473-5350)
- Shumei Wei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4899-8730)
- Kathy Qian Luo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7454-9547)
- Xueli Jin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5618-920X)
- Xianggui Yuan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0920-6171)
- Yun Liang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7066-1816)
- Shanshan Guo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3350-0514)
- Xian Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9526-9031)
- Baizhou Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1023-9301)
- Chaoyi Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6142-1592)
- Wenbin Qian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9817-6674)
- Qunyi Guo
- Yurong Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1037-1062)
- Aiqi Zhao
- Jiefeng Tong
Institutions
- Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Wenzhou Medical University (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University (CN)
- Zhejiang Taizhou Hospital (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Blood
- Published
- 2025-11-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2025-5304
- Primary Topic
- CNS Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00