Prevalence of HCV infection in nongastric marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequently associated with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. We investigated the prevalence of HCV infection in nongastric marginal zone lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in order to define the relationship between the viral infection and the presenting features, treatment, and outcome.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 172 patients with a histological diagnosis of marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT, except for stomach, and with available HCV serology, among a series of 208 patients.


RESULTS
HCV infection was documented in 60 patients (35%). Most HCV-positive patients (97%) showed a single MALT organ involvement. HCV-positive patients showed a more frequent involvement of skin (35%), salivary glands (25%), and orbit (15%). The majority of stage IV HCV-positive patients (71%) had a single MALT site with bone marrow involvement. The overall response rate was similar in HCV-positive (93%) and HCV-negative patients (87%). Overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) did not differ according to HCV infection. In multivariate analysis, advanced disease (stage III-IV) was associated with a poorer OS (P = 0.0001), irrespective of HCV serostatus.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that nongastric marginal zone lymphomas are characterized by a high prevalence of HCV infection. Patients with involvement of a single MALT site have the highest prevalence of HCV. HCV-positive nongastric lymphomas of MALT show an indolent course similar to HCV-negative patients and seem an ideal target for exploiting the antilymphoma activity of antiviral treatments.
Arcaini
L
L
Division of Hematology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Italy. luca.arcaini@unipv.it
Burcheri
S
S
Rossi
A
A
Paulli
M
M
Bruno
R
R
Passamonti
F
F
Brusamolino
E
E
Molteni
A
A
Pulsoni
A
A
Cox
M C
MC
Orsucci
L
L
Fabbri
A
A
Frezzato
M
M
Voso
M T
MT
Zaja
F
F
Montanari
F
F
Merli
M
M
Pascutto
C
C
Morra
E
E
Cortelazzo
S
S
Lazzarino
M
M
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers