RESUMO
Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) has been widely investigated and has attracted attention because of the possible etiologic role of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). To further determine the role of EBV in the causation of this tumor, we measured EBV-specific nuclear antigen (EBNA) and EBV DNA using immunofluorescence and nucleic acid hybridization techniques, respectively. Of 34 BL biopsies, 27 tissues (79%) were EBNA-positive, whereas none of the 25 non-BL biopsy tissues were EBNA-positive. Of 15 BL tumors tested, 14 (93%) were EBV DNA-positive with a mean of 39 (range, 8-86) EBV genome equivalents per cell. Each of the 15 non-BL biopsy specimens subjected to nucleic acid hybridization had less than two virus genome equivalents per cell, although all had serologic evidence of past EBV infection. The findings further supported the possible etiologic role of EBV in African BL and negated the passenger hypothesis. The EBV genome could, therefore, be used as a separating marker between African BL and non-BL lymphomas.
Assuntos
Linfoma de Burkitt/microbiologia , Herpesvirus Humano 4 , Linfoma/microbiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Antígenos Virais/análise , Linfoma de Burkitt/complicações , Linfoma de Burkitt/imunologia , Núcleo Celular/imunologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , DNA Viral/análise , Feminino , Herpesvirus Humano 4/imunologia , Humanos , Linfoma/complicações , Linfoma/imunologia , Malária/complicações , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Hibridização de Ácido Nucleico , Transformação Genética , UgandaRESUMO
Twenty-two patients with Burkitt's lymphoma in complete remission induced by either cyclophosphamide or a combination of cyclophosphamide, oncovin and methotrexate were randomized to receive or not to receive prophylactic cerebrospinal irradiation. Six of 11 irradiated patients relapsed with tumour of the central nervous system as compared to 4 of 11 controls. Relapse frequency appeared to be related to stage of disease on admission. It is concluded that irradiation does not prevent relapse.
Assuntos
Encéfalo/efeitos da radiação , Linfoma de Burkitt/radioterapia , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Central/prevenção & controle , Medula Espinal/efeitos da radiação , Linfoma de Burkitt/complicações , Linfoma de Burkitt/tratamento farmacológico , Radioisótopos de Cobalto , Humanos , Teleterapia por Radioisótopo , Remissão EspontâneaRESUMO
A randomized clinical trial designed to compare the effectiveness of cytoxan (CTX) alone versus a combination consisting of CTX, vincristine (Oncovin) and methotrexate (COM) in the treatment of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) was carried out. Nineteen patients were selected at random to receive CTX alone while 21 received COM. The two treatment regimens were equally effective in inducing remissions, and complete response rates of 83.3% and 84.3% were observed for CTX- and COM-treated patients, respectively. The relapse frequencies were also equal but the pattern of relapse was clearly different. Seven out of 8 (87.5%) in the CTX group relapsed with systemic and central nervous system (CNS) tumor, while 8 out of 10 (80%) in the COM group relapsed with CNS disease only. This difference is highly significant p = 0.008. The remission durations and survival to date are the same.