Activation of BCR and NF-κB signaling and tumor proliferation in LN-resident cells. (A) Twenty-seven genes comprising a previously validated BCR gene signature are depicted in a heat map. Gene expression data were median-centered and scaled as indicated. Each column represents a patient’s sample; each row represents a gene. Genes are vertically arranged in the corresponding table, following the same order as in the heat map. (B) The BCR signature score was computed by averaging the mRNA expression level of all signature genes. Signature scores between PBT and LNM groups were compared using unpaired Student t test (left panel). BCR scores in matched MCL PBT/LNM (n = 8) and LNT/LNM (n = 4) samples were compared using paired Student t test (right panels). Matched samples were concomitantly collected from the same patient and are connected with a line. (C) Heat map of 18 genes representing the canonical NF-κB pathway (NF-κB signature) generated after a supervised clustering of the samples. Patients’ samples and gene names are arranged in columns and rows, respectively. Genes are vertically arranged in the corresponding table, following the same order as in the heat map. (D) The NF-κB signature scores of MCL PBT, LNM, and LNT were compared as in (B). (E) Heat map of 28 genes representing the alternative NF-κB pathway (NIK signature) generated after a supervised clustering of the samples. Patients’ samples and gene names are arranged in columns and rows, respectively. Genes are vertically arranged in the corresponding table, following the same order as in the heat map. (F) The NIK signature scores of MCL PBT, LNM, and LNT were compared as in (B). LNM, whole lymph node biopsy.