Publication Date:
2014-12-06
Description:
Introduction Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral load and serum free light chains (sFLC) are easily measurable and are possible biomarkers for screening and prognosis in HIV-related lymphomas. EBV load and sFLC levels have been shown to be increased at the diagnosis of HIV-related lymphomas but there is a lack of data on their levels at complete response (CR). We aimed to determine the clinical relevance and the potential use of combining EBV load and sFLC measurements as tumor markers in patients with HIV-related lymphomas. Methods Retrospective study of HIV-infected patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin (NHL) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) treated in a single institution from 1998 to 2012. EBV loads were determined in plasma by means of a commercial real-time PCR technique (EBV PCR kit, Qiagen GmbH, Hilden, Germany). Levels of κ and λ sFLC were measured in serum using a standardized assay (FREELITE, The Binding Site, Birmingham, UK). sFLC were considered elevated when κ, λ, or the sum of κ and λ were above the upper normal limit. Clinical and biological data were collected from the clinical records. Results Sixty-eight patients were studied (53 NHL and 15 HL). At diagnosis (N=47), levels of κ, λ, and sum of κ and λ sFLC were elevated in 87%, 70%, and 81% of patients, respectively. At CR (N=29), the percentage of patients with elevated κ, λ, and κ+λ was 79%, 45%, and 62%, respectively. EBV load was detectable in 60% of the patients at diagnosis (N=50) and in 7.4% at CR (N=27). Median levels of κ, λ, and κ+λ sFLC at diagnosis were higher than at CR (6.06 mg/dL vs 3.19 mg/dL, P=0.006; 3.94 mg/dL vs 2.21 mg/dL, P=0.021; 11.38 mg/dL vs 5.43 mg/dL, P=0.004; respectively). Median levels of EBV loads at diagnosis were also higher than at CR (121.5 copies/mL vs. 0 copies/mL, P
Print ISSN:
0006-4971
Electronic ISSN:
1528-0020
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
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