Submitted February 12, 2008
Accepted April 14, 2008
EBV-positive immunodeficiency lymphoma after alemtuzumab-CHOP therapy for peripheral T-cell lymphoma
Hanneke C. Kluin-Nelemans*, Jules L. Coenen, James E. Boers, Gustaaf W. van Imhoff, and Stefano Rosati
Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Department of Internal Medicine, Isala hospital, Zwolle, Netherlands
Department of Pathology, Isala hospital, Zwolle, Netherlands
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
* Corresponding author; email: j.c.kluin.nelemans{at}int.umcg.nl.
Alemtuzumab-CHOP chemotherapy has become experimental trial therapy for aggressive T cell lymphoma. Several multicenter phase III trials will incorporate this scheme. As part of an ongoing phase II trial in which we recently treated 20 patients with 8 cycles of CHOP every 2 weeks with 3 additional gifts of 30 mg alemtuzumab per cycle, we observed the development of EBV+ lymphoproliferative disease, after completion of the immunochemotherapy in three patients with peripheral T cell lymphoma. As the occurrence of EBV+ lymphoproliferative disease is rare after alemtuzumab monotherapy, such as is given for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, we feel that early reporting of this potential side effect is warranted. It may be caused by intrinsic T cell defects in patients with T cell lymphoma, or by the combination of alemtuzumab with CHOP chemotherapy.
