Latent Epstein-Barr virus infection of tumor cells in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma predicts adverse outcome in older adult patients.
OBJECTIVE
In classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL), the impact of tumor cell Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status on clinical outcome is controversial.


METHODS
We assessed failure-free survival (FFS) and relative survival (RS) in 412 patients with cHL and age-defined subgroups in a population-based study in the northern Netherlands. Tumor cell EBV status was positive in 34%, and the median follow-up time was 7.1 years. Patients' median age at diagnosis was 35 years (range, 7 to 91 years), and 63% had Ann Arbor stage I or II, 24% had stage III, and 12% had stage IV disease.


RESULTS
EBV status influenced 5-year FFS and RS only in patients from the age group 50 to 74 years. Five-year FFS was 60% in patients with EBV-positive versus 85% in EBV-negative tumors (P = .01). Five-year RS was 69% in patients with EBV-positive versus 82% in EBV-negative tumors (P = .03). After adjusting for histology, HLA class II expression by tumor cells, stage, presence of extranodal localizations and treatment, and the effect of positive EBV tumor status remained significant in FFS multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.28 to 7.53; P = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that treatment failure in older adult patients with cHL is associated with positive tumor cell EBV status.
Diepstra
Arjan
A
Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands. a.diepstra@path.umcg.nl
van Imhoff
Gustaaf W
GW
Schaapveld
Michael
M
Karim-Kos
Henrike
H
van den Berg
Anke
A
Vellenga
Edo
E
Poppema
Sibrand
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D017211:Treatment Failure; D055815:Young Adult