Unlikely role of Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of primary cutaneous CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND

Primary cutaneous CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare subset of cutaneous lymphoma, with a much better prognosis than its nodal counterpart. The pathogenesis of both nodal and primary cutaneous CD30+ ALCL is largely unknown but experimental data support the hypothesis that the Epstein-Barr virus could play a role in the nodal subset.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the involvement of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in primary cutaneous CD30+ ALCL by searching for both nucleic acids and EBV proteins in cutaneous lesions.

SETTING

Two University Hospitals in Southern France (secondary referral hospitals).

PATIENTS

Eight consecutive patients with typical primary cutaneous CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma were studied.

METHODS

Search for the presence of DNA, RNA and EBV proteins in cutaneous lesions by PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

EBV DNA and RNA was identified in only one lesion of primary cutaneous CD30+ ALCL and in none of the normal adjacent skin samples. In situ hybridization and immunohistological studies were consistently negative in all samples.

CONCLUSION

These results do not support an early role of EBV in the oncogenetic pathogenesis of primary cutaneous CD30+ ALCL.