Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in hepatitis C virus positive patients

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has been correlated to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in some geographical areas. We have previously described the outcome, and the tolerance to standard chemoimmunotherapy of 156 previously untreated consecutive HCV-positive patients with DLBCL observed in three Institutions from Northern Italy. Clinical presentation of HCV-positive DLBCL differs from their HCV-negative counterpart, with spleen and liver frequently involved at diagnosis, and LDH that is often elevated. Only a minority of patients have to discontinue chemotherapy due to severe liver function impairment, and the addition of Rituximab does not seem to affect patients' tolerance to treatment. Hepatitis B virus co-infection, advanced Ann Arbor stage, and nodal origin of the tumor are the strongest adverse prognostic factors in these patients. We show here that long-term overall survival (OS) of HCV-positive patients is significantly better when compared to 224 consecutive HCV-negative, age-matched patients with DLBCL treated and followed up in Vicenza Hematology Department in the same time period (5-year OS 72% vs. 56%, p = 0.004). A prospective evaluation of HCV-positive high grade lymphomas is now warranted.