title: GBV-C infection and risk of NHL among U.S. adults.
abstract: Some retrospective studies suggest an association between infection with GB virus-C (GBV-C) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We evaluated this association prospectively in a nested case-control study within the U.S. Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. Cases (N = 658) and controls (N = 1,316) were individually matched by age, sex, race/ethnicity, timing of study entry, and sample selection. Prediagnostic PLCO serum samples were tested for GBV-C RNA (as a measure of active infection) and E2 antibody (active or resolved infection). Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) for the association between GBV-C and NHL overall and NHL subtypes. Twelve cases (1.8%) and seven controls (0.5%) were GBV-C RNA-positive. GBV-C RNA positivity was associated with NHL overall [OR, 3.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.35-8.71] and, based on small numbers, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (OR, 5.31; 95% CI, 1.54-18.36). The association with NHL persisted when the interval between testing and selection was greater than 4 years (OR, 6.00; 95% CI, 1.21-29.73). In contrast, E2 antibody positivity was not associated with NHL risk (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.74-1.58). Our study demonstrates that GBV-C infection precedes development of NHL. GBV-C infection may play an etiologic role in a small proportion of NHL cases, perhaps by causing chronic immune stimulation or impaired immunosurveillance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland. cindy.chang@fda.hhs.gov.
authors.forename: Cindy M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Jack T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klinzman
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McLinden
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Purdue
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Hormuzd A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Katki
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Engels
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers