TY - JOUR T1 - EBV Positivity and Programmed Death-ligand 1 Expression in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma: A Systematic Review JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 5951 LP - 5968 DO - 10.21873/anticanres.14616 VL - 40 IS - 11 AU - GABRIELA ANNA BARZYK AU - VAFIE SHERIFF Y1 - 2020/11/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/40/11/5951.abstract N2 - Background/Aim: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A systematic review to evaluate the association between Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in DLBCL biopsy was conducted. Materials and Methods: Only studies comparing EBV+ and EBV− groups were eligible following database search. Prevalence ratios were calculated for results comparison. The EBV impact on PD-L1 positivity in tumour cells and its microenvironment was analysed. Results: With 270 records screened, eleven cross-sectional studies were identified for final review. Eight studies investigated PD-L1 expression in tumour cells and found an EBV trend unlikely, while four studies found an increase in its expression in the tumour microenvironment. Nine studies showed that EBV+ cases were more commonly of non-germinal centre B-cell origin. Four studies examined genetic aberrations, but no definite consensus was reached. Conclusion: A non-EBV related mechanism is likely related to increased PD-L1 expression, with relevance to the cell of origin. ER -