We performed a large case-control study (3,932 cases, 15,562 controls) to investigate the association of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) with hematopoietic malignancies in Korea, where HBV is endemic. HBV was present in 636 control patients (4.1%), 333 lymphoma patients (12.4%), and 75 leukemia patients (6.0%). HCV infection was present in 173 control patients (1.1%), 76 lymphoma patients (2.8%), and 18 leukemia patients (1.4%). Co-infection of HBV and HCV was present in one (0.007%) control patient, seven lymphoma patients (0.3%), and one leukemia patient (0.08%). HBV infection was associated with increased risks for most subtypes of B and T/NK-cell lymphomas, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and acute myeloid leukemia. HCV infection was associated with increased risks for diffuse large B cell lymphoma, extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma, peripheral T cell lymphoma, and acute lymphoid leukemia B cell early pre-B type. HBV seems to have a more important role than HCV in the pathogenesis of specific hematologic malignancies in Korea.

Treatment outcomes in childhood BAL patients differed by immunophenotype and cytogenetics. HSCT did not offer a significantly greater survival advantage compared to chemotherapy. While these data suggest that treatment should be individualized and stratified according to biologic characteristics and prognostic factors in BAL, prospective trial data are still needed.

This might be the first prospective study showing the PB HPC level for timing PBPC harvest.