Fig. 5: Associations of SMYD3 protein expression with PKM2 expression and the responsiveness to chemotherapy in DLBCL.

A Representative images of SMYD3 and PKM2 immunohistochemical staining in DLBCL tissue sample were acquired using X10 and X20 objectives. Scale bars, 200 μm and 100 μm. B SMYD3 protein expression was positively associated with that of PKM2 in patients with DLBCL (R = 0.4712; P = 0.0002). C Kaplan-Meier survival curves showing that high PKM2 protein expression was associated with poor OS in patients with DLBCL. D ROC curves of the combination ofSMYD3 and PKM2 protein expression. Patients in the SMYD3^high/PKM2^high group experienced poor (E) PFS and F OS, while those in the SMYD3^low/PKM2^low group experienced good PFS and OS. G The SMYD3 IHC score of the response group was significantly lower than that of the no-response group. H Patients with high SMYD3 expression had a lower response rate than those with low SMYD3 expression. Patients with high SMYD3 expression had poor (I) PFS and J OS following RCHOP therapy. K A schematic model of the mechanism underlying the role of SMYD3 in DLBCL aerobic glycolysis through regulating PKM2 transcription via H3K4me3. DLBCL Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, SMYD3 SET and MYND domain containing 3, PKM2 Pyruvate kinase M2, ROC Receiver operating characteristic, PFS Progression-free survival, OS Overall survival, H3K4me3 Trimethylated histone 3 lysine 4, RCHOP Rituximab,cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, oncovin and prednisone.