Low incidence of Epstein–Barr virus-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the elderly in Tianjin, northern China

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the elderly in a representative northern Chinese population. Overall, 212 cases of primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were analyzed for EBV-positive status by detection of EBV-encoded RNA using in situ hybridization. Immunophenotypic identity was verified by a streptavidin–biotin peroxidase detection system using the markers CD20, CD3, CD10, BCL6 and MUM1. The prevalence of EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in elderly northern Chinese patients was 3.8% (eight of 212). All eight cases were negative for CD10 and BCL6 immunostaining. The incidence is less frequent than that of southern China and other East-Asian countries. Patients tend to be older, present with a non-germinal center B-cell-like immunophenotype and have a poor outcome.

Keywords::

• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• Epstein–Barr virus
• immunohistochemistry
• in situ hybridization
• prevalence

Acknowledgements

The study was supported by a grant from the Pacific Rim Research Program of University of California, USA.

Potential conflict of interest

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at www.informahealthcare.com/lal.