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Extranodal lymphomas associated with hepatitis C virus infection
V Ascoli1, F Lo Coco, M Artini
1Anatomia Patologica, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Patologia, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
American Journal of Clinical Pathology
|May 12, 1998
Summary
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Molecular analysis of these B-cell lymphomas revealed no common oncogene alterations, suggesting a unique pathogenesis in chronic HCV patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Extranodal B-cell lymphomas can manifest in various locations during the course of HCV-related liver disease.
Observation:
- This study details eight cases of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients with chronic HCV.
- Lymphoma presentations included mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type, diffuse large cell, Burkitt, and diffuse small cell types.
- Tumor sites varied, involving the liver, spleen, peritoneal cavity, parotid gland, nasopharynx, and eyelid, often with concurrent nodal disease.
Findings:
- Molecular analysis of four lymphoma specimens showed clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements.
- These lymphomas lacked common genetic alterations in bcl-2, bcl-6, c-myc genes, and p53.
- Replicative intermediate HCV RNA was not detected in most specimens; low-level positive-strand HCV RNA was found in one hepatic lymphoma.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that HCV-associated B-cell lymphomas may have a distinct molecular profile.
- The antigen-driven nature of these neoplasms, particularly hepatic MALT-type lymphoma, is likely influenced by chronic HCV infection.
- Further research into the pathogenesis of these lymphomas is warranted to guide therapeutic strategies.