title: Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma: diagnosis and treatment cues.
abstract: Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKL) is mostly endemic to East Asia. It predominantly occurs in the nasal or paranasal areas and less frequently in the skin. Most of the tumours show NK-cell, but rarely T-cell, phenotypes. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome can be usually detected in lymphoma cells. Geographic localization of ENKL matches the endemic distribution of EBV, suggesting that EBV plays an important role in lymphomagenesis. Originally, NK-cell and T-cell types were believed to present the same clinicopathologic characteristics, but recent data suggest more aggressive characteristics for the NK-cell phenotype. Although ENKL is sensitive to radiotherapy, it shows a poorer response to chemotherapeutic agents than other lymphomas due to expression of p-glycoprotein. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches must be considered. Several new clinical trials are now being conducted in East Asia.
authors.affiliation: Department of HSCT Data Management, Nagoya University, School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. r-suzuki@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ritsuro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kengo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001706:Biopsy; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019002:CD56 Antigen