title: In Europe expression of EBNA2 is associated with poor survival in EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the elderly.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the elderly occurs by definition in patients above the age of 50 years without any known underlying immunodeficiency. We investigated the incidence and clinical relevance of this subtype in Europe with special attention to the EBV-latency type. Among the 598 DLBCL, 15 EBV-positive lymphomas fulfilling the criteria of EBV-positive DLBCL of the elderly were identified (2.5%). Patients with EBV-positive DLBCL expressing EBNA2 showed a significantly poorer overall survival than patients with EBNA2-negative EBV-positive DLBCL (p = 0.0156). The incidence of EBV-positive DLBCL of the elderly in Europe is much lower than in Asian countries (2.5% of all cases of DLBCL). Interestingly, the likelihood of EBV positivity did not increase with age in patient above 50 years. Among EBV-positive DLBCL of the elderly a subgroup with EBV-latency type III expressing EBNA2 can be identified, which shows a poor outcome.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pathology , Hematopathology Section and Lymph Node Registry, University of Kiel , Germany.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stuhlmann-Laeisz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pathology , Hematopathology Section and Lymph Node Registry, University of Kiel , Germany.
authors.forename: Alisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borchert
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pathology , University of Tübingen , Germany.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quintanilla-Martinez
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pathology , University of Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoeller
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pathology , University of Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tzankov
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pathology , Hematopathology Section and Lymph Node Registry, University of Kiel , Germany.
authors.forename: Ilske
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oschlies
authors.affiliation: d IMISE , Leipzig , Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kreuz
authors.affiliation: e Second Department of Medicine , University of Kiel , Germany and 5 DIAKO Bremen , Bremen Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trappe
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pathology , Hematopathology Section and Lymph Node Registry, University of Kiel , Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klapper
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D017735:Virus Latency
chemical_list: D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
keywords: Age; DLBCL; Ebstein-Barr virus; latency type