title: Hepatitis C-associated B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Epidemiology, molecular signature and clinical management.
abstract: There is ample epidemiologic evidence for an association of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). B-NHL subtypes most frequently associated with HCV are marginal zone lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The most convincing evidence for a causal relationship between HCV infection and lymphoma development is the observation of B-NHL regression after HCV eradication by antiviral therapy (AVT). In fact, for indolent HCV-associated B-NHL, first-line AVT instead of standard immune-chemotherapy might be considered. Molecular mechanisms of HCV-NHL development are still poorly understood. Three general theories have emerged to understand the HCV-induced lymphomagenesis: (1) continuous external stimulation of lymphocyte receptors by viral antigens and consecutive proliferation; (2) HCV replication in B cells with oncogenic effect mediated by intracellular viral proteins; (3) permanent B-cell damage, e.g., mutation of tumor suppressor genes, caused by a transiently intracellular virus ("hit and run" theory). This review systematically summarizes the data on epidemiology, interventional studies, and molecular mechanisms of HCV-associated B-NHL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine 1, J.W. Goethe-University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany. jan.peveling-oberhag@kgu.de
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peveling-Oberhag
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arcaini
authors.forename: Martin-Leo
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hansmann
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeuzem
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens