Haematologica Reports 2005; 1(issue 5): 28-32
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Treatment of Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphomas:
the role of Epstein-Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T
cells
Andrea Antinori, Lucia Fratino
Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases,
“Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
The relationship between immunodeficiency and the increased
frequency of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) was firstly noted nearly 35
years ago among transplanted patient, but it became more evident
with the emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
epidemic in the early 80’s.1 Since then, several
epidemiological studies have assessed that HIV-infected individuals
have 10 to 100-fold increased risks particularly for three types of
NHL [i.e., primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL);
immunoblastic lymphoma and Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL)]. The
clinico-pathological spectrum of AIDS-related NHLs includes: 1) BL
and BL like lymphomas; 2) diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
with immunoblastic features; 3) primary central nervous system
lymphoma (PCNSL); and 4) two novel and rare entities, primary
effusion lymphoma (PEL) and plasmablastic lymphoma of the oral
cavity. Hodgkin’s disease (HD), is also seen with a higher
frequency in HIV-infected persons,2 but it is not
included among AIDS–defining conditions. [>Read full article in PDF]
