Malignant plasma cell tumors in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

Extramedullary Plasmacytoma in a Patient with Aids: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is likely to play a role in the onset of plasma cell tumors (PCT). In fact, HIV could be involved in plasmacytomagenesis in several ways: it has the ability to lessen the immunosurveillance to such a degree as to impair the immune response against tumor cell growth. This decreased immunosurveillance could further facilitate the transforming malignant role of possible Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection occurring in this setting. Lastly, a murine retrovirus has been shown to be able to accelerate plasmacytomagenesis in mice, thus indicating that these viruses may be directly involved in the onset of PCT. According to cases previously reported in the literature, the clinical features of this case of HIV-associated PCT were more aggressive and the survival was shorter than expected for PCT cases in the general population. Further, the pattern of alteration of gam-maglobulinemia differed in this setting. These alterations strongly suggest a direct role of HIV in PCT. Further in-depth investigations are therefore warranted to elucidate this issue.

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic management of a solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection: A case report

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a rare malignant tumor that is characterized by a malignant plasma cell neoplasm. Such neoplasms in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, the present study describes the first case of a solitary adrenal EMP in a patient with HIV. A 35-year-old male who had been diagnosed with HIV 3 months previously presented with a 2-week history of intermittent right flank pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a soft-tissue density mass in the right adrenal gland area. The patient subsequently underwent a retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Post-operative pathological diagnosis revealed a solitary EMP. Although the patient refused to undergo post-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy, no recurrence was detected after 2 years of follow-up. The present case illustrates the fact that this rare type of solitary EMP associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) can occur in the adrenal glands, and that retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection of the tumor may be a good method to manage this condition. In addition, although rare, solitary EMP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an adrenal mass in HIV-infected patients.

Extraosseous plasmacytoma with an aggressive course occurring solely in the CNS

Extraosseous (extramedullary) plasmacytoma is a relatively indolent neoplasm that constitutes 3-5% of all plasma cell neoplasms. Rare cases have been reported to truly occur in the CNS and not as an extension from a nasal lesion. EBV expression in plasma cell neoplasms has been reported in very few cases that are mainly post-transplant or occurring in severely immunosuppressed patients. We report a case of extraosseous plasmacytoma with an aggressive course in an HIV-positive individual that occurred solely in the CNS, showing EBV expression by in situ hybridization, and presenting as an intraparenchymal mass as well as in the CSF.

Plasmablastic lymphoma involving the penis: a previously unreported location of a case with aberrant CD3 expression

Lymphomas of the penis are rare and can either arise at this site or be a manifestation of systemic disease. We report the case of an elderly man with a plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) involving the uncircumcised penile prepuce. The neoplasm was composed of plasmablasts positive for monotypic immunoglobulin lambda light chain, CD3, CD79a, CD138 and Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER), and was negative for CD2, CD5, CD7, CD20, and PAX5. This case is highly unusual for at least two reasons. The penile foreskin is a rare location for lymphoma and PBL at this site has not been reported. Secondly, the tumour was shown by immunohistochemistry to be positive for the T-cell marker CD3. Lineage ambiguity in terminally differentiated B-cell lymphomas has been reported to be closely related with immune compromise and is associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. The literature on penile lymphomas is also reviewed.

Cutaneous presentation of post-renal transplant lymphoproliferative disorder: a series of four cases

We report detailed histological and molecular characteristics of four post transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) presenting in the skin of renal transplant patients, and their clinical outcome. Three had B-cell lymphomas (cases 1-3), and one had a T-cell lymphoma (case 4). All B-cell lymphomas showed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or in situ hybridization (ISH). Cases 1 and 2 were large cell lymphomas, and case 3 a plasmacytoma. Case 1 showed light chain restriction and heavy chain gene rearrangement by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The patient was then diagnosed with an abdominal lymphoma and died of sepsis. Case 2 had no recoverable DNA. Case 3 had a plasmacytoma that showed monoclonal light chain restriction on IHC and an oligoclonal heavy chain rearrangement by PCR. In cases 2 and 3, the lesions regressed following reduction of immunosuppression, and died 1.5 and 8 years later from unrelated medical causes. Case 4 was a CD 30+ anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma with no EBV detected by IHC, ISH and PCR, and died of heart failure 2 years later. Cutaneous manifestations of PTLD are rare, show wide array of clinical and pathological features, and generally have a favorable prognosis. EBV appears to be associated only with B-cell cutaneous lymphomas.

Plasma cell tumors in HIV-positive patients: Report of a case and review of the literature

Plasma cell tumors show an increased incidence in HIV-positive patients. The cases reported in the literature suggest that plasma cell tumors occur in a younger age group than that encountered in the general population. Pathologically, many of these tumors show a plasmablastic morphology. Plasma cell tumors in HIV-positive patients may present at unusual sites and progress rapidly to involve multiple sites, including the soft tissues and viscera. The prognosis is generally poor. These features may be related to a combination of factors, including immunodeficiency, oncogenic viruses, and altered cytokine milieu in these patients. A case of plasma cell tumor in an HIV-positive patient is presented.

HIV and plasmablastic lymphoma manifesting in sinus, testicles, and bones: a further expansion of the disease spectrum

Patients with HIV infection are at increased risk for B-cell neoplasms and plasma cell dyscrasias. Both B cell and plasma cell tumors tend to be intermediate or high grade and are frequently associated with Epstein-Barr virus. Patients with HIV infection are also at higher risk of acquiring plasmablastic lymphoma. Until this time, only sinus, oral gastrointestinal, and lung manifestation have been noted. In this report we describe a 41-year-old male with HIV infection who developed multiple pleomorphic, extramedullary plasmablastic lymphomas associated with Epstein-Barr virus. We review the clinical and immunological features of his malignancy and thereby expand the spectrum of disease to include additional sites (bones, testicles) not previously reported.

Cutaneous plasmablastic lymphoma in an HIV-positive male: an unrecognized cutaneous manifestation

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare and relatively new entity originally described in HIV-infected individuals. This subset of Epstein-Barr-virus (EBV)-related non-Hodgkin lymphomas is now regarded as a distinct clinicopathological category of AIDS-associated lymphomas occurring preferentially in the oral cavity and showing a poor prognosis. We describe for the first time an EBV-associated PBL with an isolated cutaneous distribution on the lower extremities in an HIV-infected heterosexual male and point to the unique clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic characteristics of this lymphoma. The patient presented with fast growing solid and livid nodules on both legs. The large, blastic tumor cells showed the following immunophenotype: CD138+, CD45+, CD20-, CD10-, CD3-, CD30-, bcl-2-, bcl-6-, LMP-1- and EMA-. The proliferation fraction (Mib-1) was >90%. EBV association was demonstrated by in situ hybridization (EBV-encoded RNAs 1/2). Polymerase-chain-reaction-based DNA analysis demonstrated a clonal IgH rearrangement in the absence of a bcl-2/IgH translocation. PBL in HIV patients may occur not only in the oral cavity, but can probably involve any other organs including the skin.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder limited to the skin

BACKGROUND

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a condition affecting immunosuppressed transplant patients and has a variety of clinical presentations. It is rarely found in the skin, and cases of PTLD in the skin are usually linked with lymph node or other organ involvement.

METHODS

We report a case of plasmacytoid PTLD that is limited to the skin. A 63-year-old man with a history of cardiac transplant presented with exophytic tumors involving the lower extremity. The diagnosis and classification of the various forms of PTLD are discussed.

RESULTS

Histology, immunohistochemical stains, and in situ hybridization revealed an aggressive plasmacytoid tumor that was Epstein-Barr virus positive. The patient's tumors resolved with decreased immunosuppression and localized radiation.

CONCLUSION

This case is unusual for several reasons including involvement limited to the skin, presentation 15 years following transplant, and plasmacytoid phenotype of the tumor. This disorder will likely be seen by dermatologists and dermatopathologists with the increasing use of immunosuppressive medications in the dermatologist's patient population.

Update on non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining malignancies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the natural history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has changed. Early in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, epidemiologic studies showed that HIV-infected patients were at higher risk for developing specific AIDS-defining malignancies. More recent studies linking HIV/AIDS databases to cancer registries have shown that HIV-infected patients are also at higher risk of developing non-AIDS-defining malignancies. We review the most recent data regarding clinical presentation, pathology, and treatment outcomes for these non-AIDS-defining malignancies.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent large cohort studies linking HIV/AIDS databases to cancer registries have shown that HIV-infected patients are also at higher risk of developing non-AIDS-defining malignancies. Besides anal cancer and Hodgkin disease, the cohort studies have identified other malignancies that appear to occur at a higher rate in the HIV-infected population as compared with the general population. These malignancies include lung cancer, skin cancer, germ cell tumors, leiomyosarcomas, cancers of the head and neck, conjunctival cancer, multiple myeloma, and leukemias.

SUMMARY

As the epidemiology of non-AIDS-defining malignancies continues to evolve, it is unclear whether the appropriate treatments and outcomes for these or other malignancies are changed for HIV-infected patients treated with HAART.

Treatment of myeloma: recent developments

Melphalan was the first described treatment for patients with multiple myeloma in the 1960s and is still being used in clinical practice. However, the use of melphalan in combination with prednisone resulted in a median survival of only 2-3 years. Therefore, the dose of melphalan has been intensified since then (140-200 mg/m(2)). In order to diminish treatment-related morbidity and mortality due to severe myelosuppression induced by these regimens, high-dose melphalan is currently supported with autologous stem cells. Indications for high-dose therapy and the role of further intensification by performing second or allogeneic transplantations are discussed. Furthermore, new therapeutic modalities, such as inhibitors of angiogenesis, also showing direct antiproliferative, cytokine-related and immunomodulatory effects on plasma cells (thalidomide and its newer derivatives), inhibitors of the transcription factor NF-kappa B (proteasome inhibitors) and immunotherapy are described.

Primary cutaneous plasmacytoma: a clinicopathological study of two cases with a long-term follow-up and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Primary cutaneous plasmacytoma (PCP) is a rare type of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma arising primarily in the skin and derived from clonally expanded plasma cells with a various degrees of maturation and atypia. The disease is rare with only 30 cases reported so far.

METHODS

Two cases of PCP with long-term follow-up of 17 and 15 years are presented.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Both patients were men with nodular lesions on the face. Histologically, the lesions were composed predominantly of variably maturated plasma cells with monotypic expression of immunoglobulin (Ig) lambda chains. Polymerase chain reaction for IgH genes did not reveal clonal rearrangement. Our cases are discussed in the context of previously reported cases of PCP with a long-term follow-up. We also include a review of all cases of PCP with known tumor progression earlier in the course of the disease (local relapse or visceral spread) to determine the clinical course of this primary cutaneous lymphoma.

Lymphoid neoplasms in HIV-positive individuals in India

The HIV epidemic in the Asian subcontinent has a significant impact on India. Patients with AIDS have an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In this study, we have investigated the pattern of distribution of lymphoid neoplasms and also studied the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-association and p53 expression in 35 HIV-positive patients from India. The biopsy samples were studied for histology and for expression of CD20, CD3, CD15, CD30, light chains, CD138, bcl-6, epithelial membrane antigen, EBV-latent membrane protein-1, and p53 protein. In situ hybridization was performed with digoxigenin-labeled anti-sense EBV-encoded nuclear RNA-1 (EBER-1) probe. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on DNA extracted from paraffin sections for EBV-subtype analysis. The 35 cases included 7 cases of Hodgkin disease (HD), 4 cases of plasmacytoma (PL), and 24 cases of NHL. Among the cases of NHL, 3 were Burkitt lymphoma (BL), 4 were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) of centroblastic type (CBL), 10 were DLBL of immunoblastic type (IBL), 4 were high-grade B-cell lymphoma (unspecified) and the rest were other subtypes. EBV-association was noted in all cases of HD, 2 of 3 BL, and 3 of 10 IBL. PCR analysis of the EBNA-3C gene revealed amplimers corresponding to type A. A p53 protein overexpression was noted in 6 of 10 IBLs, 1 of 3 BLs, 2 of 3 CBLs, and 5 of 7 cases of HD. This is the first reported study of lymphoid malignancies in HIV-positive individuals from India.

Neoplasia of plasma cells with atypical presentation and infection by the human immunodeficiency virus. A presentation of two cases

Neoplasia of plasma cells acquires special clinical characteristics in patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These patients are much younger at the time of diagnosis, and when they are compared with the general population they show an atypical clinical evolution, with a greater frequency of solitary plasmacytomas, less evidence of a monoclonal plasmatic component, or greater aggressiveness of the neoplastic process. This paper provides the most significant data on two patients infected by HIV and diagnosed for plasma cell neoplasia. Recent pathogenetic hypotheses for plasma cell neoplasias that include immune alterations, chronic viral infections, and hyperexpression of cytokines exist in patients infected by HIV, and this could suggest that this type of neoplasia is another malignant haematological process associated with AIDS.

Oligo-/monoclonal gammopathy and hypergammaglobulinemia in ataxia-telangiectasia. A study of 90 patients

We investigated the presence of hypergammaglobulinemia and oligo-/monoclonal gammopathy in 90 patients (from 80 families) with ataxia-telangiectasia ranging in age from 2 to 29 years. Of the 90 patients, 38.8% displayed hypergammaglobulinemia. An isolated increase in IgM was the most common finding (23.3%) followed by a simultaneous increase in IgM and IgG (8.8%), an isolated increase in IgA (3.3%), an elevated level of IgG (2.2%) and a concomitant increase in IgM and IgA (1.1%), respectively. Seven of the patients (8.1%) had oligo-/monoclonal gammopathy. The gammopathies included all major immunoglobulin isotypes. Chemotherapeutic intervention in 2 cases precipitated the emergence of new clones within a matter of weeks. Further investigation of oligo-/monoclonal gammopathies in these patients may lead to a clearer understanding of the clinical course and provide further insight into the underlying mechanisms of B-cell abnormalities in ataxia-telangiectasia.

Acute myeloid leukemias, multiple myelomas, and chronic leukemias in the setting of HIV infection

B-cell lineage-derived high-grade malignant lymphomas are a well-recognized complication of HIV infection. However, isolated cases of unusual hematologic malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemias (AML), multiple myeloma (MM) or plasmacytomas, and chronic leukemias have been reported. This review focuses on these uncommon malignancies supervening in the setting of HIV infection. Eighteen cases of AML have been reported. Extramedullary localizations are frequently noticed. Nontreated patients have a survival of 2.7 weeks, compared with 9.8 months for patients treated with chemotherapy; being HIV-positive is not a contraindication to the treatment of AML. Based on the observed 72% incidence of AML M4 and M5 in an HIV-infected population versus 19% to 36% expected in a non-HIV-infected population, we postulate that the association of AML and HIV is not coincidental. The monocytotropism of HIV, the chronic cytokine-mediated activation of monocytes/macrophages, and the immunodeficiency may explain this association. Twenty-two cases of MM or plasmacytomas have been described, most of them in young patients. Again, extramedullary plasma cell tumors are recorded in many patients. Physiopathologic studies suggest that MM may develop because of an antigen-driven response to the circulating viral antigens. A role for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the pathogenesis, as previously described in high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, is suggested by the presence of EBV genomes in plasma cell tumors. Finally, a broad spectrum of chronic leukemias derived from B- or T-cell lymphocyte lineage has been reported. These associations seem coincidental.

Multiple myeloma in young patients: clinical presentation and treatment approach

Multiple myeloma (MM) in patients younger than 40 or 30 years accounts for only 2% and 0.3% of all myelomas, respectively. The presenting clinical and laboratory features are similar to those observed in patients of all ages who have myeloma, except a higher proportion of young patients have only light-chain myeloma. Some very young patients, particularly those younger than 30 years, have multiple skeletal lesions with extramedullary spread and a small M-component with few bone marrow plasma cells. In young patients with MM, particularly in those with good prognostic features (that is, normal renal function or low beta2-microglobulin level) and also in those younger than 30 years, the survival is longer than that in series of patients of all ages with MM. Young patients with MM might benefit from early high-dose therapy followed by autologous or allogeneic stem cell rescue. The current status of autologous and allogeneic transplantation in MM is reviewed.

Localization of Kaposi's Sarcoma–Associated Herpesvirus in Bone Marrow Biopsy Samples From Patients With Multiple Myeloma

We have recently demonstrated the presence of Kaposi's sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in cultured bone marrow (BM) stromal dendritic cells from all patients with myeloma studied. To show that these findings were not an artifact of tissue culture, we performed in situ hybridization (ISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect KSHV in BM core biopsies. Using ISH to open reading frame-72 (ORF 72), we localized KSHV to BM dendritic cells in 17 of 20 patients with myeloma, 2 patients with plasmacytosis associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and 1 case of aplastic anemia. In contrast, BM from normal subjects (n = 4) and patients with lymphoma and leukemia (n = 21) did not contain KSHV. PCR amplification with KSHV primers demonstrated product in fresh BM biopsy samples from 6 of 7 myeloma patients, whereas three normal marrows contained no amplified product. These findings suggest that KSHV, possibly through alterations in the BM microenvironment and production of viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6), may stimulate and maintain abnormal plasma cell proliferation in myeloma and related disorders.

Localization of Kaposi's Sarcoma–Associated Herpesvirus in Bone Marrow Biopsy Samples From Patients With Multiple Myeloma

We have recently demonstrated the presence of Kaposi's sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in cultured bone marrow (BM) stromal dendritic cells from all patients with myeloma studied. To show that these findings were not an artifact of tissue culture, we performed in situ hybridization (ISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect KSHV in BM core biopsies. Using ISH to open reading frame-72 (ORF 72), we localized KSHV to BM dendritic cells in 17 of 20 patients with myeloma, 2 patients with plasmacytosis associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and 1 case of aplastic anemia. In contrast, BM from normal subjects (n = 4) and patients with lymphoma and leukemia (n = 21) did not contain KSHV. PCR amplification with KSHV primers demonstrated product in fresh BM biopsy samples from 6 of 7 myeloma patients, whereas three normal marrows contained no amplified product. These findings suggest that KSHV, possibly through alterations in the BM microenvironment and production of viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6), may stimulate and maintain abnormal plasma cell proliferation in myeloma and related disorders.

CT of disseminated plasmacytoma in an AIDS patient

It is well known that acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is associated with increased risk of neoplasms, particularly Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. There have been several recent reports in the literature describing plasma cell tumors in AIDS patients. We report the imaging findings in a case of widely disseminated plasmacytoma in a patient with known AIDS.

HIV-associated Hodgkin disease: a clinical study of 18 cases and review of the literature

Intermediate- and high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) occurring in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient is considered diagnostic of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Other neoplasms (both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic) have also been reported in patients with HIV infection, although none except Kaposi sarcoma carries the same diagnosis of AIDS as B-cell NHL in an HIV-infected host. There have been previous reports in the literature of Hodgkin disease (HD) in HIV-infected patients. We describe our clinical and pathological experience with HD from 1984-1989, in 18 patients with documented HIV infection and also review the literature on HD in HIV-infected patients. Almost all patients described herein presented with advanced disease and mixed cellularity histology and did very poorly despite some good initial responses to therapy. By statistical analysis, we found that the patients with HIV-associated HD had a strong tendency to be outside the age range seen in non-HIV-associated HD (P less than 0.005). We also discuss the possible relationship between HIV and HD and consider whether HIV-associated HD, like B-cell NHL, is a manifestation of AIDS.

Angiocentric immunoproliferative lesion/T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome: a case report and review of the literature

The lesions known as lymphocytic vasculitis, polymorphic reticulosis (midline malignant reticulosis, lethal midline granuloma), lymphomatoid granulomatosis, and angiocentric lymphoma form what have been collectively termed the angiocentric immunoproliferative lesions (AIL). Because of recent reports demonstrating clonal rearrangements of the T-cell receptor in these lesions, the AIL are now thought to represent a continuous spectrum of post-thymic T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). NHL associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) represents intermediate or high-grade B-cell malignancies in HIV-infected patients that may be etiologically related to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). There have been reports of EBV-associated T-cell NHL, AIL, and large granular lymphocyte (LGL) proliferations, as well as HIV-associated T-cell neoplasia, LGL/T-cell proliferations, and AIL. We describe a case of polymorphic reticulosis (lethal midline granuloma) arising in an HIV-infected individual, who later progressed to AIDS, and review the literature on HIV-associated and EBV-associated T-cell neoplasia, LGL/T-cell proliferations, and AIL. The etiology of this AIL/T-cell NHL, especially in relation to EBV and HIV, is discussed.