Epidemiology of Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma and Its Association with Epstein Barr Virus in Northern China

Abstract

BackgroundThe incidence of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and its association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) varies significantly with age, sex, ethnicity and geographic location. This is the first report on epidemiological features of cHL patients from Northern regions of China. These features are compared to data from a previously published Dutch cHL population.Methodology/Principal Findings157 cHL patients diagnosed between 1997 and 2008 in the North of China were included after histopathological re-evaluation. The Dutch population-based cohort consisted of 515 cHL patients diagnosed between 1987 and 2000. EBV status was determined by in situ hybridization of EBV- encoded small RNAs. In the Chinese population, tumor cells of 39% of the cHL patients were EBV+ and this was significantly associated with male sex, mixed cellularity subtype and young age (<20 y). The median age of the Chinese patients was 9 years younger than that of the Dutch patients (28 y vs. 37 y). In addition, the age distribution between the two populations was strikingly different in both the EBV+ subgroups (p<0.001) and the EBV- subgroups (p = 0.01). The mixed cellularity subtype was almost 3x more frequent amongst the Chinese (p<0.001).Conclusion/SignificanceCHL patients from Northern regions of China show a distinctive age distribution pattern with a striking incidence peak of EBV+ mixed cellularity cases among children and adolescents and another high incidence peak of EBV- nodular sclerosis cases in young adults. In comparison to Dutch cHL patients there are pronounced differences in age distribution, subtype and EBV status, presumably caused by complex gene-environmental interactions.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytopathology of Pediatric Lympha denopathy among Sudanese Children

“…There were 111(35%) cases of lymphomas (Abuidris et al, 2008). Such findings were previously reported (Huang et al, 2011).…”

Characteristics of Hodgkin Lymphoma in a Defined Group of Iranian Pediatric Patients

“…This finding is in agreement with some previous studies (Gualco et al, 2010;Dinesh et al, 2011;Huang et al, 2011).…”

“…In the present study, the most frequent histological subtype was mixed cellularity (MC). This finding is in accordance to other studies (Araujo et al, 2006;Huang et al, 2011). In general, it is demonstrated that the MC is the most prevalent subtype of HL in underdeveloped countries (Sandoval et al, 2002;Schwartz, 2005).…”

Clinical Significance of Quantitative Analysis of Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Patients of Xinjiang Uygur Nationality with Hodgkin's Lymphoma

“…EBV positive rate of MC in developing country was 70%-90%, followed by NS type (Dinand et al, 2006;Huang et al, 2011). However, in this research, the difference of EBV-DNA load between this two tissue types and other types was not significant (P>0.05).…”