Presence of p16 hypermethylation and Epstein-Barr virus infection in transplant-associated hematolymphoid neoplasm of the skin.
BACKGROUND
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with the malignant transformation of B, T, and NK lymphocytes in humans, especially in immunosuppressed individuals.


OBJECTIVE
We describe an unusual case confined to the skin in a 39-year-old African American female following a renal transplant.


METHODS
Morphologically and immunophenotypically, the tumor was best classified as a plasmablastic lymphoma; however, the neoplastic population revealed rearrangements of both immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgG) and T cell receptor gamma (TCR-gamma). In situ hybridization demonstrated the presence of Epstein-Barr early RNA species (EBER) in the lymphoma cells, consistent with EBV infection.


RESULTS
We have previously demonstrated that EBV-induced reactive oxygen is associated with hypermethylation of the tumor suppressor gene p16 in Burkitt lymphoma, and that p16 hypermethylation is nearly always associated with EBV infection in Burkitt lymphoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies are needed to determine whether p16 is widely suppressed in immunosuppression-induced lymphoma.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we demonstrated high levels of hypermethylation of the tumor suppressor gene p16, thus supporting the role of EBV as a carcinogen in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease.
Arbiser
Jack L
JL
Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. jarbise@emory.edu
Mann
Karen P
KP
Losken
Elizabeth M
EM
Cohen
Cynthia
C
Reddy
Kalpana
K
Kokko
Kenneth
K
Pollack
Brian
B
Fan
Chung-Yang
CY
O'Reilly
Fiona
F
D000328:Adult; D019175:DNA Methylation; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D019942:Genes, p16; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology