Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) positive classical Hodgkin lymphoma of Iraqi children: An immunophenotypic and molecular characterization of Hodgkin/Reed‐Sternberg cells. Issue 12 (2nd September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Napoli, Arianna; Al‐Jadiri, Mazin F.; Talerico, Caterina; Duranti, Enrico; Pilozzi, Emanuela; Trivedi, Pankaj; Anastasiadou, Eleni; Alsaadawi, Adel R.; Al‐Darraji, Amir F.; Al‐Hadad, Salma A.; Testi, Anna Maria; Uccini, Stefania; Ruco, Luigi
• Is Part Of: Pediatric blood & cancer. Volume 60:Issue 12(2013:Dec.)
• Page Start: 2068
• Page End: 2072
• Publication Date: 2013-09-02
• Subjects: Tumors in children -- Periodicals; Blood -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Cancer in children -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1002/pbc.24654
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1545-5009

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pbc24654-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) in children is often associated with EBV infection, more commonly in developing countries.</p> </sec> <sec id="pbc24654-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Procedure</title> <p>Here we describe the histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of 57 cases of HL affecting Iraqi children under 14 years of age.</p> </sec> <sec id="pbc24654-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Histologically, 51 cases were classified as cHL of Mixed Cellularity and Nodular Sclerosis subtypes (MC = 69%; NS = 31%), and 6 cases as Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant HL (NLP‐HL). EBV infection of H/RS cells was demonstrated in 44 of 51 cases of cHL (86%), and was more common in MC than in NS (97% vs. 63%; <italic>P</italic> = 0.0025). The immunophenotypic profile of H/RS cells was similar in MC and NS, and was not influenced by EBV infection; H/RS cells were consistently positive for PAX‐5 and to a lesser degree for other B cell markers including CD20/CD79a, OCT‐2, and BOB‐1. Clonal IGH rearrangements were detected in 14 of 38 cHL (37%), with no significant difference between MC and NS cases, and with no association with the EBV status. Oligoclonal/monoclonal TCRγ rearrangements were present in 28 of 38 cases (74%), suggestive of restricted T cell responses.</p> </sec> <sec id="pbc24654-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Our findings indicate that cHL occurring in Iraqi children is characterized by immunohistochemical and molecular features undistinguishable from those present in cHL occurring elsewhere in the world. Moreover, the high incidence of EBV‐infected H/RS cells and frequent occurrence of restricted T cell responses might be indicative of a defective local immune response perhaps related to the very young age of the children. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:2068–2072. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>