CD30 (Ki-1)-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphomas in 13 patients with and 27 patients without human immunodeficiency virus infection: the first comparative clinicopathologic study from a single institution that also includes 80 patients with other human immunodeficiency virus-related systemic lymphomas.
OBJECTIVE
CD30 (Ki-1)-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (Ki-1 ALCL) rarely has been described in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The purpose of this study was to characterize further the clinicopathologic features of Ki-1 ALCL in patients with HIV infection and, for the first time, to make a comparison with Ki-1 ALCL in patients without HIV infection.


METHODS
From September 1987 to April 1993, 93 patients with HIV infection and systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were treated at the Cancer Center of Aviano, Italy; in 13 (14%), the diagnosis was of Ki-1 ALCL subtype. This group of patients was compared with the remaining 80 patients who had other HIV-related NHL and with another group of 27 patients with Ki-1 ALCL who were without a diagnosis of HIV infection.


RESULTS
There was no case of a T-cell phenotype in the 13 HIV-positive Ki-1 ALCL patients, whereas there was such a phenotype in six of 27 (22%) HIV-negative Ki-1 ALCL patients. In regard to the general characteristics of the two groups with Ki-1 ALCL, more patients with stage IV, two or more extranodal sites at presentation, treatment-related leukopenia, and opportunistic infections as the cause of death were observed in the HIV-positive Ki-1 ALCL group. When these variables were compared with those of the other HIV-related NHL group, such differences were not present.


CONCLUSIONS
Ki-1 ALCL is not a rare clinicopathologic entity among NHL in patients with HIV infection. The differences observed within the two Ki-1 ALCL groups of patients may be because of factors related to the HIV infection alone.
Division of Medical Oncology and AIDS, Cancer Center, Aviano, Italy.
U
U
Tirelli
E
E
Vaccher
V
V
Zagonel
R
R
Talamini
D
D
Bernardi
M
M
Tavio
A
A
Gloghini
M C
MC
Merola
S
S
Monfardini
A
A
Carbone
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002423:Cause of Death; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D004317:Doxorubicin