Burkitt lymphoma in Iraqi children: A distinctive form of sporadic disease with high incidence of EBV+ cases and more frequent expression of MUM1/IRF4 protein in cases with head and neck presentation

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018 Dec;65(12):e27399. doi: 10.1002/pbc.27399. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related lymphoproliferative disorders are relatively common in Iraqi children. Burkitt lymphoma (BL) accounted for 40% of lymphoma cases. The mean age of 125 BL cases was 5.9 ± 3.1 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 3.6:1. Clinical presentation was abdominal in 66% and head and neck in 34%. Bone marrow involvement was higher (P < 0.001) in children with head and neck disease. Tumor cells had MYC translocation (96%) and were CD20+ /CD10+ /MYC+ /BCL2- . MUM1/IRF4 staining was expressed by a fraction of tumor cells in 19 of 125 cases (15%) and was more frequent (P < 0.007) in head and neck disease (12/42; 29%). EBV-encoded RNA was positive in 100 of 125 (80%) BL cases.

Keywords: Burkitt lymphoma; Epstein-Barr virus; MUM1/IRF4; pediatric oncology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / epidemiology*
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / pathology*
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / virology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / complications
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / virology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / biosynthesis
  • Iraq / epidemiology
  • Male

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors
  • interferon regulatory factor-4