Based on our pooled data, elevated sPD-L1 was closely related to poor OS (HR = 2.81, 95%CI = 1.99–3.95, p < 0.001) and inferior PFS (HR = 3.16, 95%CI = 1.41–7.08, p = 0.005) of DLBCL. This evidence concerns the gene HOXD13 and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.