title: The presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) in Turkey: special emphasis on 'EBV-positive DLBCL of the elderly'.
abstract: Accumulated evidence has shown the importance of Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of various lymphomas. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus expression and its effect on survival amongst diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases from two large tertiary care centres in Turkey with a particular interest in identifying cases of 'Epstein-Barr virus-positive DLBCL of the elderly'. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cases diagnosed between 1999 and 2009 were retrieved and 340 cases were used to construct tissue microarrays. The presence of Epstein-Barr virus small ribonucleic acids was examined by in situ hybridization using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded small RNA (EBER) oligonucleotides. A total of 18 cases (5.3%) showed Epstein-Barr virus expression. Twelve cases were classified as Epstein-Barr virus-positive DLBCL of the elderly. Epstein-Barr virus-positive DLBCL cases showed a significantly inferior overall survival as compared with Epstein-Barr virus-negative cases (p < 0.001). In our study group Epstein-Barr virus expression is not prevalent in DLBCLs. Epstein-Barr virus-positive DLBCL of the elderly is also rare in the Turkish population. The presence of Epstein-Barr virus, however, is associated with poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. unera@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Aysegul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uner
authors.forename: Nalan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akyurek
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saglam
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdullazade
authors.forename: Nuket
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uzum
authors.forename: Sevgen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barista
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benekli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005814:Genes, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral