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Extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma: diagnosis and treatment cues
Author(s) -
Suzuki Ritsuro,
Takeuchi Kengo,
Ohshima Koichi,
Nakamura Shigeo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
hematological oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1099-1069
pISSN - 0278-0232
DOI - 10.1002/hon.847
Subject(s) - lymphoma , phenotype , cell , t cell lymphoma , virus , immunology , medicine , aggressive lymphoma , biology , cancer research , epstein–barr virus , gene , genetics , rituximab
Extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKL) is mostly endemic to East Asia. It predominantly occurs in the nasal or paranasal areas and less frequently in the skin. Most of the tumours show NK‐cell, but rarely T‐cell, phenotypes. The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) genome can be usually detected in lymphoma cells. Geographic localization of ENKL matches the endemic distribution of EBV, suggesting that EBV plays an important role in lymphomagenesis. Originally, NK‐cell and T‐cell types were believed to present the same clinicopathologic characteristics, but recent data suggest more aggressive characteristics for the NK‐cell phenotype. Although ENKL is sensitive to radiotherapy, it shows a poorer response to chemotherapeutic agents than other lymphomas due to expression of p‐glycoprotein. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches must be considered. Several new clinical trials are now being conducted in East Asia. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.