Prognosis in primary effusion lymphoma is associated with the number of body cavities involved

Leuk Lymphoma. 2012 Dec;53(12):2378-82. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2012.694075. Epub 2012 Jun 13.

Abstract

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare lymphoma associated with Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), and characterized by a malignant body cavity effusion without solid organ or nodal involvement. Prognostic factors in patients with PEL have not been systematically studied. We conducted a literature search for patients with HHV8-positive PEL to identify potential prognostic factors for survival. Our search identified 147 patients, among which 104 patients were HHV8-positive. The median overall survival was 9 months. The median age was 57 years with a male predominance (6:1). Pathologically, 33% of the patients expressed CD20 and 69% expressed CD30. Patients with PEL with > 1 body cavity involved had a median overall survival (OS) of 4 months compared with 18 months in patients with only one cavity involved (p = 0.003). Additionally, in patients with one involved body cavity, pericardial involvement was associated with a longer median OS than pleural followed by peritoneal involvement (40, 27 and 5 months, respectively; p = 0.04). In conclusion, our study suggests that the number and location of body cavities involved are prognostic in patients with PEL.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, CD20 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / physiology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Ki-1 Antigen / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, Primary Effusion / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Primary Effusion / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, Primary Effusion / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pericardium / drug effects
  • Pericardium / pathology
  • Pericardium / virology
  • Peritoneal Cavity / pathology*
  • Peritoneal Cavity / virology
  • Pleural Cavity / drug effects
  • Pleural Cavity / pathology*
  • Pleural Cavity / virology
  • Pleural Effusion, Malignant / drug therapy
  • Pleural Effusion, Malignant / pathology
  • Pleural Effusion, Malignant / virology
  • Prognosis
  • Review Literature as Topic
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Antigens, CD20
  • Ki-1 Antigen