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Epstein–Barr virus‐associated T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Author(s) -
Sakajiri Sakura,
Mori Kiyoshi,
Isobe Yasushi,
Kawamata Norihiko,
Oshimi Kazuo
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2002.03372.x
Subject(s) - virus , epstein–barr virus , lymphoma , bystander effect , carcinogenesis , herpesviridae , biology , chemotherapy , virology , cancer research , spleen , southern blot , immunology , medicine , viral disease , cancer , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Summary. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is frequently detected in haematological malignancies, including Burkitt's lymphomas/leukaemias, Hodgkin's diseases and non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas. However, immature T‐cell malignancies associated with EBV have not been reported previously. We report a patient with T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T‐ALL), whose leukaemic cells had EBV, confirmed by Southern blotting and in situ hybridization. The EBV existed in episomal form and was detected in most leukaemic cells, but not in bystander normal B‐cells. The leukaemic cells, massively infiltrated into the liver and spleen, were resistant to chemotherapy. EBV might be associated with tumorigenesis of T‐ALL, and characteristic clinical features of the patient.