title: Immunophenotypical Switch versus Tumor Heterogeneity in a Patient with HIV-Associated Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.
abstract: Patients with HIV/AIDS have a higher risk of developing aggressive B-cell lymphomas, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Lymphomas are rather heterogeneous in nature and in a few cases can switch their genetic or immunohistochemical phenotype, transform into other lymphomas or carry more than one malignant clone. In this report, we present the case of a 47-year-old man with HIV infection who was diagnosed with an apparent low-risk, early-stage DLBCL, but became refractory to therapy while undergoing treatment with rituximab-containing chemotherapy. We postulate that the development of his refractory disease occurred in the context of an immunohistochemical switch or the surge of a clone refractory to therapy. This phenomenon was not associated with a superinfection with EBV or HHV-8.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, The Miriam Hospital, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906, USA.
authors.forename: Jorge J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rizack
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Treaba