Abstract:
Objective The occurrence of numerous tumors, particularly classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL), is related with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. However, the incidence of CHL and its association with EBV varies significantly with ethnicity, geographic location, sex, and age. This study investigated the association of EBV infection with CHL in Northern Chinese Han population.
Methods EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) was detected in 136 cases of CHL through in situ hybridization.
Results A total of 37 cases were EBER positive (28%). The mixed cellularity (MC) subtype had the highest positive EBER rate of 49% (23/47; P < 0.001), followed by lymphocyte-rich subtype with 30% (3/10), nodular sclerosis (NS) subtype with 14% (10/73), and 1ymphocyte depletion with 0% (0/2). Our study identified a single age distribution in the third decade. Moreover, NS subtype showed an evident single peak in the third decade. However, MC subtype had a lower peak in the fifth decade. The incidence of EBER showed a bimodal age distribution with two peaks in the first and fifth decades (21.6% and 24.3%, respectively).
Conclusions CHL in Northern Chinese Han population was associated with EBV infection, particularly the MC subtype.