title: Correlation of T-cell immune response with spontaneous resolution and subsequent relapse of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: To our knowledge, there has been no report of spontaneous regression in a non-immunocompromised adult with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) in the absence of chemotherapy. We describe spontaneous regression and subsequent relapse of Epstein - Barr virus (EBV)-positive HL in an otherwise healthy male adult. The clinical course was associated with an increase in regulatory T-cell markers within the peripheral blood and diseased lymph node at the time of relapse and with a concomitant reduction in cellular immunity against relevant EBV latent membrane protein tumor-associated antigens. Our findings are in keeping with previous observations that implicate impaired cellular immunity in the immunopathogenesis of EBV-positive HL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Haematology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dua
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Grigg
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gandhi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*