Age‐related Epstein–Barr virus‐associated B‐cell lymphoproliferative disorders: Special references to lymphomas surrounding this newly recognized clinicopathologic disease

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is

Epstein-Barr virus-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma association is not only restricted to elderly patients

“…S1a). This fact, together with EBV association with both age groups, might confirm previous statements that the definitional cutoff of 50 years proposed by the WHO could be arbitrary, 4,48 since cases below the age of 50 years can be found and suggest that, at least for T-cell populations analyzed, immunosenescence could be ruled out. Concerning EBV status, no significant difference was found among each cellular marker investigated, as we previously found in pediatric EBV1 DLBCL cases.…”

“…Moreover, in recent years, it has been proposed that defective immune surveillance for EBV may develop late in life and be associated with the development of EBV positive B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. 47 This defective immune surveillance for EBV is associated with immunological deterioration as a result of aging process, 3,[48][49][50] and explains the correlation between an increased incidence of this lymphoma type together with the increased age of the patients found in the Eastern series. Surprisingly, we did not observe major differences linked with age of the relative numbers of any T-cell population analyzed (Supporting Information Fig.…”

EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the elderly is an aggressive post-germinal center B-cell neoplasm characterized by prominent nuclear factor-kB activation

“…1,6,7 Currently, age-related EBV-positive lymphoproliferative disorder accounts for 8-10% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cases among East Asian patients with no predisposing immunodeficiency; 4,8,9 however, little information is available about the frequency of this condition in western countries. 4,[10][11][12] The largest western series published to date, 11 including other EBV-positive lymphoproliferative lesions (reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, polymorphic extranodal, polymorphic nodal and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma), demonstrates that the spectrum of EBV-related lesions in western populations is wider than previously expected and mirrors the situation found in Asian countries. In addition, a direct comparison between the prevalence of this particular neoplasm between Mexican and German populations demonstrates that EBVpositive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the elderly in a Latin-American (Mexican) population has a similar prevalence, comparable with what has been reported in Asian countries, and in contrast to the low frequency in western populations (1-3%).…”

“…[3][4][5] This reduced immune surveillance could be related, at least in part, to the narrowly focused T-cell repertoire, which has limited functional activity against the EBV infection found in these patients. 1,6,7 Currently, age-related EBV-positive lymphoproliferative disorder accounts for 8-10% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cases among East Asian patients with no predisposing immunodeficiency; 4,8,9 however, little information is available about the frequency of this condition in western countries.…”

“…[3][4][5] This reduced immune surveillance could be related, at least in part, to the narrowly focused T-cell repertoire, which has limited functional activity against the EBV infection found in these patients. 1,6,7 Currently, age-related EBV-positive lymphoproliferative disorder accounts for 8-10% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cases among East Asian patients with no predisposing immunodeficiency; 4,8,9 however, little information is available about the frequency of this condition in western countries. 4,[10][11][12] The largest western series published to date, 11 including other EBV-positive lymphoproliferative lesions (reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, polymorphic extranodal, polymorphic nodal and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma), demonstrates that the spectrum of EBV-related lesions in western populations is wider than previously expected and mirrors the situation found in Asian countries.…”