Remission of natural-killer cell lymphoma of the liver with anti-hepatitis C therapy

Am J Hematol. 2005 Mar;78(3):212-5. doi: 10.1002/ajh.20286.

Abstract

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) consist of a diverse group of lymphoproliferative neoplasms with unique patterns of biology, behavior, and differing responses to therapy. A rare subtype of malignancy arising from cells of putative natural killer (NK) origin is being recognized as a distinct clinicopathological entity. Viruses including hepatitis C have been reported in association with various types of NHL but not the NK-cell subtype. We hereby report a unique case of a patient with hepatitis C who developed hepatic NK-cell lymphoma and chronic NK-cell leukemia. Interestingly, we observed clinical and radiologic remission of the neoplasm following treatment with anti-hepatitis C therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / virology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / complications
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Remission Induction
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use
  • Tumor Virus Infections / complications
  • Tumor Virus Infections / pathology*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / virology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin