A Collaborative Nationwide Lymphoma Study in Lebanon: Incidence of Various Subtypes and Analysis of Associations with Viruses

Incidence of various Hodgkin (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtypes and association with viruses in Lebanon are not known. We undertook a nationwide study of 272 patients diagnosed with lymphoma in 2007. HL comprised 32.7 % (n?=?89) of cases while NHL represented 67.3 % (n?=?183). Consistent with the literature, nodular sclerosis was the most predominant HL subtype (n?=?57/89). Among NHL, B-cell NHL represented 88 % (n?=?161/183), T-cell NHL 9 % (n?=?17/183), whereas in 2.7 % it was not classifiable. The B-cell NHL comprised predominantly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (46 %) and follicular lymphoma (23 %). 81 cases were reviewed by a panel of pathologists with 87.6 % concordance rate. Serology was negative for hepatitis C in 122 tested cases. HIV was positive in 2 cases. Two adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma were HTLV-I positive. EBV IgG were positive in 88.5 % of cases. 38 EBV seropositive cases [27 NHL (24 B-cell, 3 T-cell) and 11 HL] were studied for EBV genome expression using EBV-encoded RNA (EBER)-in situ hybridization. EBER expression was positive in 8 (21 %) cases (6 HL, 2 T-cell NHL). The distribution of lymphoma subtypes in Lebanon appears similar to that of Western countries. The high rate of EBV positivity in HL and T-cell lymphoma by EBER deserves further investigation.     

儿童肠道息肉样淋巴瘤15例临床病理分析

目的 观察儿童肠道息肉样淋巴瘤(PL)的临床病理学特征.方法 收集江西省儿童医院诊治的15例儿童肠道PL的临床病理资料并进行随访,免疫组织化学法检测CD10、bcl-6、bcl-2、MUM-1和ERCC1表达,原位杂交检测EB病毒编码的RNA(EBER).结果 15例肠道PL中伯基特淋巴瘤(BL)13例,患者CD10、bcl-6、bcl-2、MUM-1和ERCC1阳性率分别为100.0%(13/13)、92.3%(12/13)、0、7.7%(1/13)和15.4%(2/13),EBER阳性7例(53.8%);弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤(DLBCL)和介于BL和DLBCL之间的未分类B细胞淋巴瘤(BL/DLBCL)各1例.13例BL患儿临床分期:Ⅱ期11例(84.6%),Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期各1例(7.7%);DLBCL和BL/DLBCL患者临床分期均为Ⅱ期.术后化疗的14例PL患儿均无瘤生存,随访时间24~120个月,1例术后未化疗的Ⅳ期BL患儿于术后2个月死亡.结论 儿童肠道PL以BL多见,临床分期较低,术后积极化疗预后好.     

171例淋巴瘤病变组织中EB病毒表达情况的分析

目的:探讨不同类型淋巴瘤与EB病毒(Epstein-Barr virus,EBV)感染的关系。方法:收集淋巴瘤组织171例,包括弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤(DLBC)106例;结外NK/T细胞淋巴瘤,鼻型22例;霍奇金淋巴瘤(HL)19例;血管免疫母细胞性T细胞淋巴瘤(AITL)13例;黏膜相关淋巴组织B细胞淋巴瘤(MALT)11例。应用EBV Lmp-1单抗免疫组化(IHC)和生物素标记的EBER1寡核苷酸探针原位杂交(ISH)分析EBV感染与淋巴瘤的关系。结果:淋巴瘤组织中EBV Lmp-1蛋白与EBER1 mRNA总阳性率分别为11.1%(19/171)、25.7%(44/171)。其中AITL为30.8%(4/13)、61.5%(8/13);HL为47.4%(9/19)、57.9%(11/19);结外NK/T细胞淋巴瘤为22.7%(5/22)、81.8%(18/22);DLBC为0.94%(1/106)、5.7%(6/106);MALT为0(0/11)、9.1%(1/11)。结果显示EBV在DLBC及MALT中的表达率低于AITL、HL及结外NK/T细胞淋巴瘤,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);且原位杂交检测EBER1 mRNA比免疫组化检测Lmp-1蛋白更为敏感(P0.01)。结论:EBV感染与淋巴瘤有密切关系,不同类型淋巴瘤与EBV感染的关系有差异。     

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA and expression of CD30 antigen in primary anaplastic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the brain

We describe a case of primary anaplastic diffuse large-cell lymphoma arising in the central nervous system (CNS). Primary CD30-positive anaplastic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the brain is very rarely reported. Given that this tumor is immunohistochemically heterogeneous, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) analysis of tumor DNA are essential techniques for early and accurate histological diagnosis in these CD30-positive cerebral lymphoma cases. We report an early CD30- and EBV-positive anaplastic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the CNS that was diagnosed not only from the immunohistochemical study and MRI findings, but also from the genotype confirmations. This tumor was documented to have EBV episomes of monoclonal origin by PCR analysis of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement.     

Rearrangement of immunoglobulin, T-cell receptor, and bcl-2 genes in malignant lymphomas in Hong Kong

The pattern of malignant lymphomas in the Hong Kong Chinese population is characterized by a low incidence of Hodgkin's disease and follicular lymphomas. The authors studied the immunoglobulin (Ig), T-cell receptor (TCR), and bcl-2 gene rearrangement in 62 cases of malignant lymphoma in this population by Southern blot hybridization. Two cases of Hodgkin's disease showed no rearrangement of the Ig and TCR genes. All 42 cases of B-cell lymphoma had Ig heavy chain (JH) rearrangement with or without additional rearrangement of the light chains (C kappa and C lambda). One case of diffuse B-cell lymphoma had additional T-cell receptor beta-chain (C beta) rearrangement. Sixteen of 18 cases of T-cell lymphoma had C beta rearrangement, and one case of T-lymphoblastic lymphoma had additional JH rearrangement. Two of eight (25%) cases of follicular lymphoma but only one of the 34 (2.9%) cases of diffuse B-cell lymphoma had bcl-2 rearrangement that was detected by pFL-1 probe. None of the 62 cases showed bcl-2 rearrangement using the pFL-2 probe. In conclusion, the Ig and TCR gene rearrangement pattern of the lymphomas found in Hong Kong correlates well with the T-cell and B-cell lineage, which is similar to reports in the white population. However, the incidence of bcl-2 gene rearrangement in follicular B-cell lymphoma is lower than that reported in the US but comparable with that in Japan.     

Primary central nervous system lymphomas—New pathological developments

Summary Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL) show increased incidence both in immunocompromised high-risk groups and in the general population. They are extranodal diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphomas with a morphology similar to systemic lymphomas, but differ in their biological and molecular behaviour. The majority are large B-cell variants of high-grade malignancy; low-grade subtypes and T-cell lymphomas are rare; up to 50% remain unclassified according to the New Working Formulation and updated Kiel classification. Monoclonality of immunoglobulin receptor gene rearrangement can be diagnostically useful. The pathogenesis of PCNSL is obscure. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome/proteins expression in two-thirds of HIV-related PCNSL but only in 15% of those in immunocompetent patients suggest different EBV latency stages in both types; human herpesvirus type 6 does not appear to play a pathogenic role. Comparison of expression patterns of integrin chains and adhesion molecules are very similar for PCNSL and nodal lymphomas suggesting that they are not selective mediators of lymphoma cell homing to the brain. In HIV-negative PCNSL they appear not to be influenced by EBV. Studies of protooncogenes (bcl-1 and bcl-2 genes) revealed no rearrangement in PCNSL, suggesting that they are not involved in the pathogenesis of PCNSL that probably do not differ cytogenetically from nodal B-cell lymphomas. Since most of the currently known molecular parameters are probably not the primary pathogenic events, the molecular genetics and pathogenesis of PCNSL are still to be elucidated.     

EB病毒相关的人类免疫缺陷病毒阴性浆母细胞淋巴瘤的临床病理分析

目的 探讨人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）阴性且无免疫缺陷的浆母细胞淋巴瘤（PBL）的临床病理特征,提高对这组疾患的认识.方法 回顾性分析6例无免疫缺陷且HIV-PBL的组织学特点,原位杂交染色检测EB病毒（EBV）感染状态.分别采用免疫组织化学SP法及荧光原位杂交（FISH）技术检测PBL的免疫表型、EBV潜伏类型,探索myc基因的易位.结果 HIV-PBL表现为浆母细胞样或免疫母细胞样细胞的单一增生,可见瘤巨细胞及坏死;背景反应细胞少,核分裂象较多.所有病例都有EBV感染,潜伏类型为Ⅰ型（LMP1^-及EBNA2^-）.肿瘤细胞表达B细胞终末分化阶段的表型CD20^-/CD3^-/CD1386＋/Kappa＋或Lambda^＋.6例HIV-PBL均为老年患者（中位年龄69.5岁）,男女各3例;结外及口腔外侵犯率高,分别为6、5例.中位生存期为25.5个月.此外,3例患者具有免疫球蛋白重链（IgH）与myc基因易位.结论 HIV-PBL是一组独立疾患,具有无HIV感染、老年人、EBV阳性、结外及口腔外侵犯率高等特点,应与HIV＋的PBL相区别.     

EB病毒阳性的胃弥漫大B 细胞淋巴瘤特点及预后

目的:探讨EB病毒阳性患者的胃弥漫大B 细胞淋巴瘤（diffuse large B-celllymphoma,DLBCL ）病理学特点及预后。方法:回顾性分析北京大学基础医学院病理学系2009年1 月至2015年1 月75例胃弥漫大B 细胞淋巴瘤患者的临床资料,15例EB病毒（Epstein-Barr virus,EBV ）阳性者为病例组,60例EBV 阴性者为对照组,采用免疫组织化学法和EB病毒RNA 探针原位杂交法检测Bcl- 2、c-myc 蛋白表达及EBV-EBER 情况,分析EBV 阳性的胃DLBCL 患者的病理学特点及预后。结果:EBV 阳性组在临床表现、年龄、性别、起源、细胞形态等方面与EBV 阴性组相比,差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）;在Bcl- 2、c-myc 蛋白表达方面,EBV 阳性组与EBV 阴性组相比,差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）;R-CHOP 方案治疗下,EBV 阳性组与EBV 阴性组相比,中位总生存期（median overallsurvival,OS）分别为15.1 个月和31.4 个月,差异具有统计学意义（P = 0.01）。 结论:发生于胃DLBCL 患者中,EB病毒感染对临床表现、瘤细胞的起源、形态、蛋白表达等方面无明显影响;EB病毒阳性的DLBCL 患者并不局限于老年人;R-CHOP 治疗下EB病毒阳性患者的预后比EB病毒阴性的患者预后差。      

结节性淋巴细胞为主型霍奇金淋巴瘤和富于T细胞和(或)组织细胞的B细胞淋巴瘤的鉴别诊断

目的 探讨结节性淋巴细胞为主型霍奇金淋巴瘤（NLPHL）和富于T细胞和（或）组织细胞的B细胞淋巴瘤（TCRBCL）的鉴别诊断。方法 按照WHO淋巴瘤新分类法,对15例NLPHL和16例TCRBCL的组织学和免疫表型进行分析,并分别对其中3例NLPHL和4例TCRBCL进行了EBERl／2原位杂交和IgH基因重排检测。结果 组织学上,NLPHL和TCRBCL均表现为小淋巴细胞背景中散在分布的肿瘤性大细胞。NLPHL的肿瘤性大细胞形态特征以L＆H细胞（即爆米花细胞）为主,TCRBCL的肿瘤性大细胞以中心母细胞类型为主,两者都可伴有其他变异形态。免疫表型上,NLPHL和TCRBCL的肿瘤性大细胞都呈CD20、CD79a、bcl-6和EMA阳性,CD3、CD45RO、CDl5和CD30阴性,背景小淋巴细胞以T淋巴细胞为主。但在NLPHL中,CD57阳性细胞明显多于TIA-1阳性细胞,小B淋巴细胞呈小灶状或弥漫散在分布;而在TCRBCL中,TIA-1阳性细胞明显多于CD57阳性细胞,小B淋巴细胞非常稀少。CD21检测显示,NLPHL的结节呈CD21阳性滤泡树突细胞（FDC）网架结构,而TCRBCL以及NLPHL的弥漫类型或弥漫区域中,FDC网架缺乏。NLPHL和TCRBCL都呈EBER1／2阴性,IgH基因重排可检测到80～120bp的单克隆条带。结论 NLPHL和TCRBCL有组织学和免疫表型特征的相似性,诊断和鉴别诊断必须结合形态学和瘤细胞、背景细胞的免疫表型特征。     

Epstein-Barr virus infection and malignant lymphomas in liver transplant recipients

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a major cause of death and disease in transplant patients. We describe 4 cases with histologically confirmed malignant lymphoma arising in the Birmingham liver transplant programme between 1982 and 1995. One was an EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 2 were EBV-positive Burkitt's lymphomas and the 4th was an EBV-negative Burkitt's lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed expression of the EBV-encoded latent membrane protein LMP1 and of the BZLF1 trans-activator protein in 2 cases each, whereas the virus-encoded nuclear antigen EBNA2 was not detectable. All available post-transplant biopsies from the 3 patients with EBV-associated lymphoma were then studied to test whether the detection of EBV-positive cells in liver allograft biopsies could be used to identify patients at risk for the development of PTLD. Two patients showed infrequent EBV-positive cells in liver allograft biopsies up to 14 months before the occurrence of lymphoma and a marked increase in the number of such cells at the time of lymphoma diagnosis. Multiple biopsies from the 3rd patient did not reveal any EBV-carrying cells in the entire post-transplant period. Our results demonstrate a low incidence of PTLD in the Birmingham liver transplant programme. The PTLDs were morphologically high-grade malignant lymphomas. Only 3 cases were associated with EBV infection, and these showed heterogeneous patterns of EBV latent protein expression. Our results also suggest that the examination of liver allograft biopsies using EBER in situ hybridisation is not an appropriate method for identifying patients at risk of developing PTLD. Int. J. Cancer 73:514–520, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Oral cavity lymphomas in immunocompetent and human immunodeficiency virus infected patients

Oral cavity lymphoma (OCL) seems to occur more frequently in HIV-positive patients, but it is presently unknown whether HIV-related immune deficit plays a role in modifying the prevalence and the characteristics of these lymphomas. To clarify this issue, we compared OCL occurring in immunocompetent and HIV-positive patients. A comparison was made between cases of OCL occurring among 543 and 123 NHL consecutively diagnosed at a single center in immunocompetent and HIV-positive patients respectively. The prevalence of oral cavity involvement at diagnosis was significantly lower in the immunocompetent subgroup (HIV-negative: 1.66%; HIV-positive: 7.3%, P = 0.002). Extranodal T/NK nasal-nasal-type lymphoma (ET/NK-NL) was observed in 3 of 9 immunocompetent patients, whereas plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) was observed in 3 of 9 HIV-positive patients. EBV expression correlated with HIV-positivity. Response to treatment was similar between the two subgroups, but the overall prognosis was significantly worse among HIV-positive patients. Median survival was 34 months in immunocompetent vs. 9 months in HIV-positive patients (P < 0.01). A higher frequency of oral cavity lymphoma was associated with HIV infection. ET/NK-NL and PBL seemed to be clinical entities characteristically related to immunocompetent and HIV-positive subgroups, respectively. Chemotherapy was feasible and effective in both subgroups, although a poor prognosis was associated with immunodeficiency.     

Comparison of human papillomavirus detection between freshly frozen tissue and paraffin embedded tissue of invasive cervical cancer

Background

B cell non Hodgkin lymphomas account for the majority of lymphomas in Uganda. The commonest is endemic Burkitt lymphoma, followed by diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). There has been an increase in incidence of malignant lymphoma since the onset of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. However, the possible linkages of HHV8 and EBV to the condition of impaired immunity present in AIDS are still not yet very clearly understood.

Objectives

1. To describe the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus, Human Herpes virus 8 and Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 in B cell non Hodgkin lymphoma biopsy specimens in Kampala, Uganda. 2. To describe the histopathology of non Hodgkin lymphoma by HIV serology test result in Kampala, Uganda

Method

Tumour biopsies specimens from 119 patients with B cell non Hodgkin lymphoma were classified according to the WHO classification. Immunohistochemistry was used for detection of HHV8 and in situ hybridization with Epstein Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER) for EBV. Real time and nested PCR were used for the detection of HIV. The patients from whom the 1991-2000 NHL biopsies had been taken did not have HIV serology results therefore 145 patients biopsies where serology results were available were used to describe the association of HIV with non Hodgkin lymphoma type during 2008-2009.

Results

In this study, the majority (92%) of the Burkitt lymphomas and only 34.8% of the diffuse large B cell lymphomas were EBV positive. None of the precursor B lymphoblastic lymphomas or the mantle cell lymphomas showed EBV integration in the lymphoma cells. None of the Burkitt lymphoma biopsies had HIV by PCR. Of the 121 non Hodgkin B cell lymphoma patients with HIV test results, 19% had HIV. However, only 1(0.04%) case of Burkitt lymphoma had HIV. All the tumours were HHV8 negative.

Conclusions

The majority of the Burkitt lymphomas and two fifths of the diffuse large B cell lymphomas had EBV. All the tumours were HHV8 negative. Generally, the relationship of NHL and HIV was weaker than what has been reported from the developed countries. We discuss the role of these viruses in lymphomagenesis in light of current knowledge.     

Frequency of bcl-2 Gene Rearrangement in B-Cell Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of bcl-2 gene rearrangement in B-cellNon-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and identify different breakpoints of bcl-2 gene. Methods: Thirty cases of Bcelllymphoma (including 8 cases of follicular lymphoma, 19 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and 3 casesof T-cell rich B-cell lymphoma) were included in the study. Good quality of DNA was extracted in 4 cases fromformalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue and in 26 cases from fine needle aspirate. The polymerase chain reactionwas done for major break point region (mbr), minor cluster region (mcr) and intermediate cluster region (icr) ofbcl-2 gene. Results: The bcl-2 gene rearrangement was identified in 23.3% of B-cell lymphoma, 50% of follicularlymphoma, 15% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and no bcl-2 rearrangement was identified in any of the T-cellrich B-cell lymphomas. Further analysis showed, icr breakpoint in 16.7% of B-cell lymphoma, 37.5% of follicularlymphoma and 10.5% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Involvement of mbr breakpoint was found in 6.7% ofB-cell lymphoma, 12.5% of follicular lymphoma, 5.3% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Involvement of mcrbreakpoint was not seen in any of the case. Conclusion: The bcl-2 gene rearrangement is quite frequent infollicular lymphoma, followed by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The commonest breakpoint in present series isicr followed by mbr. This indicates that primers for bcl-2 gene must include icr primer, whenever bcl-2 gene isbeing evaluated for B-cell NHL in this part of the world and this might reduce the variability of frequency ofbcl-2 gene rearrangement within and between different regions.     

鼻腔鼻窦非霍奇金淋巴瘤免疫表型及其与EB病毒感染的关系

背景与目的:鼻腔鼻窦非霍奇金淋巴瘤(non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,NHL)的患病率和免疫表型组成具有地域性差异.本研究探讨中国广州地区57例鼻腔鼻窦NHL免疫表型及其与EB病毒(Epstein-Barr virus,EBV)感染的关系.方法:收集2000年4月1日至2006年10月31日中山大学肿瘤防治中心病理科57例鼻腔鼻窦NHL标本.免疫组化染色确定免疫表型,EBER原位杂交及PCR检测EBV感染情况.结果:在同期诊断的1 412例NHL中,71例(5.03%)发生于鼻腔鼻窦,其中仅有57例适用于本研究.57例鼻腔鼻窦NHL患者中,男性38例,女性19例,年龄3～75岁,中位年龄50岁;44例(77.19%)为鼻型NK/T细胞淋巴瘤,其中37例(84.09%)为EBV /CD56 NK细胞肿瘤,7例(15.91%)为EBV /CD56-细胞毒性T细胞表型;11例(19.30%)为B细胞淋巴瘤,其中6例为弥漫大B表型,2例为Burkitt(Burkitt样)淋巴瘤(EBV ),1例为髓外浆细胞瘤(EBV ),1例为MALT淋巴瘤(EBV-),1例为小淋巴细胞性淋巴瘤(EBV-);2例(3.51%)为外周T细胞淋巴瘤(EBV-).37例适用DNA检测的病例中,25例(67.57%)感染缺失型LMP1(del-LMP1)EBV株,12例(32.43%)感染野生型LMP1(wt-LMP1)EBV株.结论:鼻腔鼻窦NHL最常见的类型为鼻型NK/T细胞淋巴瘤,可进一步分为EBV /CD56 NK细胞及EBV /CD56-细胞毒性T细胞表型.NK/T细胞淋巴瘤均感染了EBV,EBV株主要为del-LMP1型.     

Epstein–Barr virus-associated primary central nervous system lymphomas in immunocompetent elderly patients: analysis for latent membrane protein-1 oncogene deletion and EBNA-2 strain typing

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNLs) in immunocompetent hosts. To investigate the role of EBV in the pathogenesis of PCNLs in immunocompetent hosts, this study assessed six PCNL cases (elderly male immunocompetent patients; age ≥60 years) histologically and immunohistochemically, and an EBV genetic study was performed. Histologically, all cases were diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with extensive necrosis. In all six cases, PCNL cells showed immunohistochemical positivity for latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) and Epstein-Barr nuclear 2 (EBNA2). Lymphoma cells also showed positive signals for EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs) on in-situ hybridization. EBV subtyping-PCR analysis demonstrated that one case was EBNA 2B type and the other five cases were EBNA 2A type, and two cases were EBV wild-type and four cases showed 30-bp LMP-1 deletion by PCR analysis. It is therefore possible that LMP gene deletion or EBNA-2 strain type are important in the tumorigenesis of EBV-positive PCNLs. In addition, EBV-positive PCNLs in immunocompetent hosts may be related to immunological deterioration derived from the aging process.     

Aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in two patients bearing coinfection of Epstein-Barr and hepatitis C viruses

Although epidemiologic and experimental data suggest an etiopathogenetic role for both hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in development of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), potential interactions between EBV and HCV during progression of B-cell NHL have not yet been fully investigated. In the present study, tumor biopsy specimens from patients with both B-cell NHL and chronic HCV infection (HCV(+)) were analyzed for the presence of EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) by in situ hybridization (ISH). VH and VL gene segments were amplified from tumor biopsy specimen DNA by PCR. EBV infection (EBV(+)) was detected in tumors from 2 of 31 (6%) HCV(+) B-cell NHL patients. Clinical histories of these two EBV(+)/HCV(+) B-cell NHL patients indicated a particularly aggressive course of disease. Chemotherapy failed to induce long lasting remission for either of these EBV(+)/HCV(+) B-cell NHL patients. Amplification of CDR3 of the Ig heavy chain gene from DNA isolated from each EBV(+)/HCV(+) B-cell NHL indicated the presence of monoclonal B-cell expansion. Rearrangement of Ig genes in neoplastic B-cell clones from both EBV(+)/HCV(+) patients was similar to that previously reported for EBV(-)/HCV(+) B-cell NHL patients. Additionally, neoplastic B-cell clones from these two EBV(+)/HCV(+) B-cell NHL patients did not exhibit intraclonal variation. Previous studies have demonstrated that intraclonal variation is common among neoplastic B-cell clones from EBV(-)/HCV(+) patients. EBV infection may have prevented evolution of variant neoplastic B-cell clones by suppressing antibody affinity maturation. Together, these data suggest that EBV infection may cooperate with HCV infection during progression of B-cell NHL in immunocompetent individuals. Such an interaction may accelerate the course of disease in B-cell NHL patients.     

新疆维吾尔自治区汉族与维吾尔族老年人EB病毒阳性弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤临床病理分析

目的 分析新疆维吾尔自治区汉族、维吾尔族老年人EB病毒(EBV)阳性弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤(DLBCL)的临床特征及预后影响因素.方法 回顾性分析新疆维吾尔自治区人民医院病理科250例DLBCL患者中EBV阳性患者的临床资料,应用免疫组织化学技术和原位杂交方法分别进行组织学分型和EBV检测.结果 250例DLBCL患者中,EBV阳性DLBCL老年患者36例(年龄≥60岁28例),其中汉族21例,维吾尔族15例,男女比为2:1;结内病变23例,结外13例.Ann Arbor分期中Ⅰ、Ⅱ期7例,Ⅲ、Ⅳ期29例;血清乳酸脱氢酶升高30例,国际预后指数中-高危险度22例.组织形态学观察:淋巴结及结外组织正常结构破坏,炎性背景中可见弥漫浸润的中心母细胞、免疫母细胞及R-S样巨细胞.免疫组织化学分析:CD20/CD79a强阳性,Ki-67高表达.依据CD10、bcl-6、Mum-1进行组织学分型,非生发中心型31例.新疆维吾尔自治区汉族、维吾尔族老年人EBV阳性DLBCL的年龄和发病部位差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05),其余临床指标及组织学分型差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 新疆维吾尔自治区汉族、维吾尔族老年人EBV阳性DLBCL发病率低,具有DLBCL独特的临床病理亚型,预后不良,且发病与EBV有一定关系.     

The prognostic significance of EBV DNA load and EBER status in diagnostic specimens from diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma patients

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐encoded small RNA in situ hybridization (EBER‐ISH) is a widely accepted method to evaluate EBV involvement in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), although little is known regarding associations between EBV DNA load and the EBER status and whether EBV DNA load data provide additional clinical information. In this study, we quantified EBV DNA load in diagnostic specimens from DLBCL patients diagnosed at our hospital to evaluate clinical implications of EBV DNA load in diagnostic specimens as contrasted with EBER‐ISH. Among 140 DLBCL patients without underlying immunodeficiency, 51 were evaluable for both EBER and EBV DNA load, 83 for EBER only and one for EBV DNA load only. The median EBV DNA load was 708 copies/µg. Although EBV DNA load was significantly higher for EBER‐positive patients than for EBER‐negative patients (p < 0.001), EBV DNA was detected in up to 72% of EBER‐negative patients. Progression‐free survival and overall survival were significantly worse for patients with EBV DNA load above 700 copies/µg than for those with EBV DNA load below 700 copies/µg (p = 0.009 and p = 0.003); they were also significantly worse for EBER‐positive patients than for EBER‐negative patients (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001). Even among EBER‐negative patients, higher EBV DNA load conferred worse progression‐free survival and overall survival (p = 0.041 and p = 0.013). These findings indicate that EBV DNA load in diagnostic specimens is not a simple surrogate for the EBER status and may be a potential biomarker associated with EBV involvement and prognosis in DLBCL. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distribution and prognosis of WHO lymphoma subtypes in Taiwan reveals a low incidence of germinal-center derived tumors

To assess the distribution of lymphomas in Taiwan according to the WHO (World Health Organization) classification, 175 recently diagnosed cases of malignant lymphomas were studied and the clinicopathologic data were analyzed. B-cell lymphomas accounted for 57.1% of cases, T-cell lymphomas 38.9%, and Hodgkin's lymphoma 4%. Extranodal lymphomas predominated (55.4%). The most common subtype of B-cell lymphoma was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (33.1%). All tumor types believed to be derived from germinal center (GC) B-cells including follicular lymphoma (4.6%), Burkitt lymphoma (1.7%), Hodgkin lymphoma (4.0%), and GC-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (as defined by combined expression of bcl-6 and CD10) were rather uncommon as compared to frequencies seen in series from Western countries. The common T-cell lymphomas included nasal and extranasal NK/T cell lymphoma (7.4%), mycosis fungoides (7.4%), and unspecified peripheral T-cell lymphoma (6.9%). Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma was very uncommon and accounts for only 0.6%. The proportional increase in T-cell lymphomas that were unrelated to type I human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) may be linked to differential Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) oncogenesis. The survival data revealed that mantle cell lymphoma, NK/T-cell lymphoma, unspecified peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma had an aggressive course. Our results confirm the utility of the WHO classification scheme for prognostic stratification and further highlight the distinctive distribution pattern of malignant lymphoma in Taiwan including the higher relative incidence of T cell lymphomas and the rarity of germinal center-derived B-cell tumors.