Primary T-cell lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I. An analysis using in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction.

BACKGROUND

During a population-based local cancer registry, a peculiar type of T-cell lymphoma restricted to the gastrointestinal tract was found in patients living in southwestern Japan.

METHODS

Five cases of gastrointestinal (GI) tract T-cell lymphoma were analyzed with immunohistologic examination, ultrastructural analysis, in situ hybridization (ISH), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS

All cases satisfied the criteria of primary GI tract lymphoma at presentation or operation. Four showed a close relationship to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). Those four had positive results for anti-HTLV-I antibody and positive surface markers for CD4, positive hybridization signals by ISH, and HTLV-I gene products by PCR, but they had no lymphoma cells in peripheral blood or bone marrow. The fifth case showed negative signals by ISH and PCR.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that some of the putative adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) types can be further classified as GI-tract-type lymphoma. The prognosis for the GI tract type is as poor as it is for conventional ATLL.