Biology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Viral Causes of Lymphoma: The History of Epstein-Barr Virus and Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1

In 1964, Epstein, Barr, and Achong published a report outlining their discovery of viral particles in lymphoblasts isolated from a patient with Burkitt lymphoma. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was the first human cancer virus to be described, and its discovery paved the way for further investigations into the oncogenic potential of viruses. In the decades following the discovery of EBV, multinational research efforts led to the discovery of further viral causes of various human cancers. Lymphomas are perhaps the cancer type that is most closely associated with oncogenic viruses: infection with EBV, human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus/human herpesvirus 8, and hepatitis C virus have all been associated with lymphomagenesis. Lymphomas have also played an important role in the history of oncoviruses, as both the first human oncovirus (EBV) and the first human retrovirus (HTLV-1) were discovered through isolates taken from patients with unique lymphoma syndromes. The history of the discovery of these 2 key oncoviruses is presented here, and their impact on further medical research, using the specific example of HIV research, is briefly discussed.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as a breast mass in patients with HIV infection: a report of three cases

Breast involvement with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is rare. Patients with AIDS have an increased incidence of NHL, often with high-grade histology, extranodal presentation and aggressive clinical course. Lymphoma of the breast in patients with HIV-1 infection has not been reported. We reviewed our tumor registry database of all AIDS-associated NHL and report on the clinical presentation and long-term outcome of 3 patients with AIDS who presented with lymphomatous involvement of the breast.

Potentiation of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in primary effusion lymphoma through azidothymidine-mediated inhibition of NF-kappa B

The survival of viral mediated lymphomas depends upon constitutive nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity. AIDS-related human herpesvirus type 8-associated primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) responds poorly to chemotherapy and is almost invariably fatal. We have previously demonstrated that the antiviral combination of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and azidothymidine (AZT) induces apoptosis in PEL cell lines. We therefore used these agents as therapy for an AIDS patient with PEL. The patient had a dramatic response, with complete resolution of his malignant effusion in 5 days. In PEL cells, the death receptor ligand known as tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is markedly up-regulated by IFN-alpha; however, signals transduced by death receptors may also activate an antiapoptotic response mediated by NF-kappaB. In both the primary tumor cells from our patient and PEL cell lines, AZT selectively blocked nuclear entry of the NF-kappaB heterodimer p50 and p65, an effect not seen with other nonthymidine antiviral nucleosides. AZT monophosphate, the principal intracellular metabolite, inhibited phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaB by the IkappaB kinase complex. AZT- and IFN-alpha-mediated apoptosis was blocked by expression and nuclear localization of an IkappaB-resistant form of NF-kappaB (the p50 subunit linked to the transactivation domain of herpes simplex virus VP16). The proapoptotic effect of AZT and IFN-alpha in PEL occurs through the concomitant activation of TRAIL and blockade of NF-kappaB and represents a novel antiviral therapy for a virally mediated tumor.