To analyze the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the biological and
clinical characteristics of patients treated for classic Hodgkin
lymphoma (cHL) in France. Bio-pathological data of 301 patients treated
for a cHL in or according to the protocol of the EuroNet PHL-C1 trial
between November 2008 and February 2013 were centrally reviewed. Median
age at diagnosis was 14 [3-18] years and the F/M ratio 0.86, 0.47
before 10 years and 0.9 from 11 to 18. CHL subtypes were nodular
sclerosis for 266/301 (88%) patients, mixed cellularity for 22/301
(7%), lymphocyte rich for 2/301 (1%), and 11/301 were unclassified.
EBV expression in situ (EBV cHL) was observed for 68/301 (23%)
patients, significantly associated with MC subtype and male gender, and
there was a trend with age <10 years, it was particularly
overrepresented in boys below 10 years: 15/23 (65%) vs 28/139 among
other male patients (20%). Event-free and overall survival were
equivalent between EBV and non-EBV cHL patients. EBV viral load was
tested for 108/301 patients and detectable in 22/108 (22%) cases. A
positive viral load was overrepresented in EBV cHL versus non-EBV cHL
patients: 13/28 (46%) vs 9/80 (11%). Detailed semi-quantitative
histological analysis showed a high number of B-cell residual follicles
in EBV cHL and no significant association with CD 20 or PAX 5
immunostaining in tumoral cells relative to EBV-negative HL.
Distribution of EBV cHL in children and adolescents is associated with
young age and male gender, suggesting a specific physiopathology and may
require a differential therapeutic approach.
Th17 immune microenvironment in Epstein-Barr virus–negative Hodgkin lymphoma: implications for immunotherapy
