Body-Cavity–Based Lymphoma in an HIV-Seronegative Patient without Kaposi's Sarcoma–Associated Herpesvirus-Like DNA Sequences

Abstract

Moore et al. (May 4 issue)¹ found herpesvirus-like DNA sequences in Kaposi's sarcoma lesions, both in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and in HIV-seronegative patients.¹ In the same issue, Cesarman and coworkers reported having found the footprint of this new agent in all eight patients with peculiar AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma based in body cavities.² Body-cavity–based non-Hodgkin's lymphomas seem to occur very rarely in HIV-seronegative patients.^3,4 In the October 5 issue of the Journal, however, Nador and colleagues reported a body-cavity–based lymphoma in an HIV-seronegative patient in which Kaposi's sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) DNA sequences were detected.⁵ On the basis of this finding, they suggested that, as in Kaposi's sarcoma, KSHV is involved in all body-cavity–based lymphomas regardless of the patient's HIV status. Thus, it is interesting to investigate whether or not KSHV DNA sequences are found in the tumor cells of all body-cavity–based non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in HIV-seronegative patients.