In Europe expression of EBNA2 is associated with poor survival in EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the elderly.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the elderly occurs by definition in patients above the age of 50 years without any known underlying immunodeficiency. We investigated the incidence and clinical relevance of this subtype in Europe with special attention to the EBV-latency type. Among the 598 DLBCL, 15 EBV-positive lymphomas fulfilling the criteria of EBV-positive DLBCL of the elderly were identified (2.

Epstein-Barr virus-negative diffuse large B-cell lymphoma hosts intra- and peritumoral B-cells with activated Epstein-Barr virus.

Although the vast majority of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) are negative for the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a subset of DLBCL in immunocompetent patients carries EBV in the lymphoma cells and expresses EBV-encoded RNA and/or proteins. EBV-positive DLBCL are rare and represent either pyothorax associated DLBCL or EBV-positive DLBCL of the elderly. In all cases of EBV-positive DLBCL, EBV is detectable in virtually all lymphoma cells, indicating that EBV was present at an initial phase of lymphomagenesis.