Premium
Clinical and laboratory observations in a lymphoma‐prone family
Author(s) -
Clark Jeffrey W.,
Tucker Margaret A.,
Greene Mark H.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19870815)60:4<864::aid-cncr2820600424>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - lymphoma , human leukocyte antigen , medicine , immunology , antigen , virus , titer , immune system
Three sisters developed non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Thirteen maternal relatives had adenocarcinomas of various types, predominantly breast and large bowel. Detailed laboratory assessment of this family revealed a variety of immunologic abnormalities. Two lymphoma patients had elevated anti‐early antigens (EA) Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) titers. One of the two also had a markedly elevated anti‐viral capsid antigen (VCA) EBV titer. The two lymphoma patients were human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐identical, but two unaffected siblings shared the same HLA haplotypes. One of the lymphoma patients and four unaffected family members were anergic; and three unaffected family members had a decreased percentage of T‐cells. These data suggest that a subtle disturbance in cellular immune functions may play a causal role in some familial aggregations of malignant lymphoma.