Additional neoplasms and HCV infection in low-grade lymphoma of MALT type.
Several chronic inflammatory conditions and genetic alterations are likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of low-grade lymphoma of MALT type. In a well-characterized series of 27 patients with low-grade lymphoma of MALT type, we studied: (1) the incidence of other neoplasms, which might be indicative of genetic instability, apparently a characteristic of this disease; (2) the prevalence of serologic and molecular markers of HCV infection, which has been found in association with other lymphoproliferative disorders. Three patients had one or more additional cancers; a total of eight tumours, five of which occurred in the same patient, suggests the presence of some genetic instability in at least some cases of the disease. Rather unexpectedly, anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA sequences were documented in 50% of the patients examined, without elevation of serum transaminases. Of interest, the two patients with parotid and conjunctival MALT lymphomas, respectively, with a previous history of Sjögren's syndrome, were HCV positive. We suggest, for the first time, that HCV may be considered, in addition to Helicobacter pylori, as another potential infectious co-factor in the multistep pathogenesis of low-grade lymphomas of MALT type.
Luppi
M
M
Department of Medical Science, University of Modena, Italy.
Longo
G
G
Ferrari
M G
MG
Ferrara
L
L
Marasca
R
R
Barozzi
P
P
Morselli
M
M
Emilia
G
G
Torelli
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000150:complications; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000150:complications