title: The Role of Epstein-Barr Virus LMP-1 Immunohistochemical Staining in Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are a few published studies about prognostic markers of Epstein-B virus (EBV) related to outcomes in pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the prognostic value and effect of EBV on survival by using biopsy materials in children and adolescents diagnosed with HL.
  
  
  METHODS
  EBV LMP-1 expression was examined using immunohistochemical methods in 58 tumor samples. Clinical features, overall survival (OS) and failure free survival time (FFS) were compared between EBV LMP-1 positive and negative patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 20 (35%) patients tumors were LMP-1 positive. When compared with patients above 10 years old, EBV LMP-1 was often positive in patients under 10 years old (30% vs. 70%, P = 0.02). In our most cases having B symptoms and advanced stage, EBV positiveness in Hodgkin Reed-Stenberg cells (H-RS) was not a significant determinant for survival (P = 0.78). Half of the past clinical trials in childhood HL reported longer survival rates in EBV LMP-1 positive patients. In some trials similar to our results there was no significant relationship between EBV and prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reason of diminished EBV positiviness may be related to technical methods such as not using immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization for EBER antigen but in laboratory conditions painting of control tissues with EBV impair this probability. In addition, cases enrolled to our study were living in Istanbul where social and economical factors are improved rather than generally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hikmet Gulsah
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Tanyildiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Inci
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuray
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bassullu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nukhet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tuzuner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alp
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tiraje
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Celkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hilmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Apak
keywords: EBV; Hodgkin Lymphoma; Prognosis