Plasma Epstein-Barr virus and Hepatitis B virus in non-Hodgkin lymphomas: Two lymphotropic, potentially oncogenic, latently occurring DNA viruses.
BACKGROUND
There is a need to study potential infective etiologies in lymphomas. Lymphocyte-transforming viruses can directly infect lymphocytes, disrupt normal cell functions, and promote cell division. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is known to be associated with several lymphomas, especially Hodgkin lymphomas (HLs). And recently, the lymphocyte-transforming role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been emphasized.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to elucidate the association of two potentially oncogenic, widely prevalent latent DNA viruses, EBV and HBV, in non-HL (NHL).


METHODS
In this prospective study, we estimated plasma EBV and HBV DNA in NHL patients.


METHODS
Peripheral blood was obtained from newly diagnosed, treatment na ïve, histologically confirmed NHL patients. Plasma EBV DNA was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting Epstein-Barr Nucleic acid 1 while the plasma HBV DNA was detected using nested PCR targeting HBX gene. In a small subset of patients, follow-up plasma samples post-anticancer chemotherapy were available and retested for viral DNA.


RESULTS
Of the 110 NHL patients, ~79% were B-cell NHL and ~21% were T-cell NHL. Plasma EBV-DNA was detected in 10% NHLs with a higher EBV association in Burkitt lymphoma (33.3%) than other subtypes. Pretherapy HBV DNA was detected in 21% NHLs; most of them being diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Moreover, 42% of DLBCL patients had HBV DNA in plasma. Since all patients were HBV surface antigen seronegative at diagnosis, baseline plasma HBV-DNAemia before chemotherapy was indicative of occult hepatitis B infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate a significant association of HBV with newly diagnosed DLBCL.
Department of Microbiology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Mahua
M
Sinha
Department of Pathology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Clementina Rama
CR
Rao
Department of Pathology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
C S
CS
Premalata
Department of Microbiology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Mohammed
M
Shafiulla
Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
K C
KC
Lakshmaiah
Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Linu Abraham
LA
Jacob
Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Govind K
GK
Babu
Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
B K
BK
Viveka
Department of Paediatric Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
L
L
Appaji
Department of Microbiology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Jayshree R
JR
Subramanyam
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; Epstein–Barr virus; hepatitis B virus; non-Hodgkin lymphoma; occult hepatitis B virus infection
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2010;11(6):1605-8
21338204
Lancet Oncol. 2010 Sep;11(9):827-34
20688564
World J Virol. 2012 Dec 12;1(6):162-73
24175222
Ann Hematol. 2008 Jun;87(6):475-80
18327583
Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012 Jan;25(1):142-63
22232374
J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2014 Aug;2014(48):1-14
25174022
Med Oncol. 2010 Jun;27(2):310-8
19350421
Blood. 2004 Jul 1;104(1):243-9
15031209
Ann Hematol. 2011 Feb;90(2):159-64
20821327
J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2012 Dec;138(12):1993-2001
22767316
Leuk Lymphoma. 2000 Oct;39(3-4):329-37
11342313
Egypt J Immunol. 2006;13(1):105-14
17974155
Blood. 2013 May 2;121(18):3547-53
23386127
J Mol Diagn. 2008 Jul;10(4):279-92
18556771
Eur J Cancer Prev. 2012 May;21(3):261-7
22433629
Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2011 Jun;18(6):914-21
21490166
Am J Blood Res. 2012;2(1):18-28
22432084
Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2013 Sep;30(6):537-43
23756088
Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2014 Sep;61(9):1616-9
24798418
Int J Lab Hematol. 2010 Feb;32(1 Pt 1):e106-13
19522857
Leuk Res. 2013 Sep;37(9):1107-15
23809055
Intern Med J. 2010 Sep;40(9):633-41
19811561
Jpn J Infect Dis. 2010 Mar;63(2):132-5
20332578
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007 Mar;16(3):401-4
17337646
Virol J. 2010 Aug 27;7:204
20799931
Semin Immunopathol. 2013 Jan;35(1):39-52
22829332
Hepatology. 2007 Jul;46(1):107-12
17526021
Blood. 1994 Mar 15;83(6):1612-8
8123852