ENTEROPATHY-ASSOCIATED T-CELL LYMPHOMA IN THE WEST OF IRELAND - LOW-FREQUENCY OF EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS IN THESE TUMORS

The Epstein-Barr virus has been implicated in the etiology of endemic Burkitt's lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoma, large-cell anaplastic CD 30 (Ki-1)-positive lymphoma, and in many T-cell lymphomas. A recent re port has found Epstein-Barr virus genome in association with 4 of 11 c ases (36%) of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, In a retrospecti ve study, we have characterized 22 consecutive cases of enteropathy-as sociated T-cell lymphoma from the West of Ireland where celiac disease is endemic, All cases were immunophenotyped with T- and B-cell marker s including the anaplastic large-cell lymphoma marker CD30 or Ki-1. Ni neteen cases were studied for latent membrane protein expression and 1 6 for Epstein-Barr virus small RNAs by in situ hybridization using EBE R oligonucleotides on routinely processed sections, Only 1 of 16 cases (6%) showed Epstein-Barr virus in tumor cells and no cases stained wi th latent membrane protein. Eight of 22 cases (36%) including the EBER -positive case were positive for CD30, These results suggest that the Epstein-Barr virus does not commonly play a role in the pathogenesis o f enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma from this area.