DNA copy number alterations in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients withdiffuse large-cell lymphomas

Individuals infected with HIV are at increased risk of developing aggressiv e non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a worse prognosis than those similarly afflic ted without HIV infection. The underlying genetic differences in tumor beha vior between these two groups are not known. We explored the hypothesis tha t lymphomas from HIV-positive individuals have distinct somatic genetic cha nges that m;ly provide clues to the genetic basis of disease progression an d outcome. Genome-wide DNA copy number alterations (CNAs) in primary tumors from 14 HIV-positive and II HIV-negative patients with diffuse large B-cel l lymphoma (DLCL) were quantified using comparative genomic hybridization ( CGH). Tumors from HIV-positive patients displayed fewer regional DNA-CNAs t han those from patients who did not have HIV. When CNAs were present, they occurred at lower frequency in HIV-positive patients. Gains at chromosomes sq and Xp were the most frequent changes in the HIV-negative group, and gai ns on 2p and 12q were common in the combined HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups. No alteration was specific to AIDS-related DLCL. These data suggest that fewer somatic genomic changes are needed for progression to DLCL in H IV-immunocompromised hosts. and that other factors, such as reduced immune surveillance, may contribute to neoplastic progression.