JLE

European Journal of Dermatology

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Unlikely role of Epstein-Barr virus in the pathogenesis of primary cutaneous CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma Volume 11, issue 3, May - June 2001

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Department of Dermatology-Phlebology, University Hospital of Montpellier, Hôpital Saint-Éloi, 80, avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.

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.