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Marie Nordström,¹ Lennart Hardell,¹ Gunilla Lindström,² Håkan Wingfors,² Karin Hardell,² and Annika Linde³

¹Department of Oncology, Örebro Medical Centre, Örebro, Sweden
²Department of Environmental Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
³Department of Virology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare chronic B-cell malignancy that, according to modern classifications, is a subgroup of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) . A rapid increase in incidence of NHL has been reported in many countries. The reasons for this increase are largely unknown, but exposure to organochlorines has been suggested as a risk factor. Epstein-Barr virus is a human herpesvirus that has been associated with certain subgroups of NHL. In this study, we measured lipid adjusted blood concentrations (in nanogram per gram) of 36 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) , p,p´-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) , hexachlorobenzene (HCB) , and four subgroups of chlordanes (trans-nonachlor, cis-nonachlor, MC6, and oxychlordane) in incident cases of HCL and controls from the general population. We obtained results on organochlorines and antibodies for 54 cases and 54 controls. Titers of antibodies to the Epstein-Barr early antigen and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen, measured as P107, were correlated to concentrations of organochlorines to evaluate the possibility of an interaction between these factors in the pathogenesis of HCL. We found no significant difference in lipid-adjusted blood concentrations of total PCBs, p,p´-DDE, HCB, or the sum of the chlordanes between cases and controls. Titers of antibodies to Epstein-Barr early antigen IgG 40 were correlated to an increased risk for HCL. This risk was further increased in those with a level above the median value of p,p´-DDE, HCB, or the sum of the chlordanes, suggesting an interaction between Epstein-Barr virus and a higher concentration of these chemicals. We also found increased risk for the sum of immunotoxic PCB group. Key words: Epstein-Barr virus, hairy cell leukemia, organochlorines. Environ Health Perspect 108:441-445 (2000) . [Online 28 March 2000]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2000/108p441-445nordstrom/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to M. Nordström, Department of Oncology, Örebro Medical Centre, S-701 85 Örebro, Sweden. Telephone: 46 1915 1000. Fax: 46 1910 1768. E-mail: marie.nordstrom@orebroll.se

We thank A-S. Claeson for chemical analyses, L. Schloss for serological analyses, Å. Näsman for statistical analyses, and I. Larsson for secretarial assistance.

This study was supported by grants from Cancer-och Allergifonden, the Swedish Work Environment Fund, the Örebro County Council Research Committee, the Örebro Medical Centre Foundation, and the Lions Research Foundation.

Received 13 October 1999 ; accepted 1 December 1999.