Epstein-Barr virus in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A pilot study
- 1 January 2006
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Leukemia & Lymphoma
- Vol. 47 (5), 827-836
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10428190500398856
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the incidence and the clinical significance of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Patients with CLL/SLL who presented at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center over a 2-year period and had available marrow paraffin blocks were studied for evidence of EBV infection using a highly specific in-situ hybridization assay for detection of EBV encoded RNA (EBERs). Results were analysed in relation to other presenting characteristics and outcome. Thirty-two patients were examined. EBERs were detected in the bone marrow of 12 of 32 (38%) CLL/SLL marrows vs 0 of 20 normal marrows (p = 0.002). EBERs were observed in sporadic granulocytes alone or in addition to its presence in lymphocytes in nine of the 12 EBV-positive patients. EBERs were detected less frequently in patients with Rai stage 0 - 1 disease (20%) compared with Rai stage 2 - 4 (66%; p = 0.008). EBER-positive patients tended to have higher lactate dehydrogenase levels (p = 0.053). The 10-year survival rate was 22% vs 58% for patients with and without discernible EBERs (log-rank, p = 0.08). Evidence of EBV infection was found in 38% of patients with CLL/SLL. Despite the small number of patients tested, discernable EBERs were significantly more common in individuals with more advanced Rai stage and there was a trend toward shorter survival in patients in whom EBV EBERs were discerned. Larger studies are needed to determine the prognostic value and role of EBV infection in patients with CLL/SLL.This publication has 42 references indexed in Scilit:
- Epstein-Barr Virus and CancerClinical Cancer Research, 2004
- Expression of epstein-barr virus in carcinomas of major salivary glands: A strong association with lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomaHuman Pathology, 1996
- Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric adenocarcinoma in TaiwanHuman Pathology, 1995
- Association of Epstein–Barr Virus with Leiomyosarcomas in Young People with AIDSThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1995
- Detection of Epstein-Barr Viral RNA in Sinonasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma from Western and Asian PatientsThe American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 1994
- Epstein-Barr virus and carcinomas: rare association of the virus with gastric adenocarcinomasBritish Journal of Cancer, 1993
- Epstein-Barr virus DNA in nasopharyngeal carcinomas from Chinese patients in Hong Kong.Journal of Clinical Pathology, 1992
- Epstein–Barr viral DNA in Hodgkin's disease: Amplification and detection using the polymerase chain reactionThe Journal of Pathology, 1991
- Analysis of Epstein-Barr viral genomes in lymphoid malignancy using southern blotting, polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridizationVirchows Archiv B Cell Pathology Including Molecular Pathology, 1990
- VIRUS PARTICLES IN CULTURED LYMPHOBLASTS FROM BURKITT'S LYMPHOMAThe Lancet, 1964