New aspects in descriptive, etiologic, and molecular epidemiology of Hodgkin's lymphoma

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has remained the main candidate suggested as the infection causing Hodgkin's lymphoma for several years. However, EBV genome has been found only within the tumor in about 20%-40% of Hodgkin's lymphoma cases with a prior diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis. Recently, autoimmune and related conditions have drawn attention to a potential role for immune-related and inflammatory conditions in the etiology and pathogenesis of the malignancy. Evidence from multiple affected families from case series, a twin study, a case-control study, and population-based registry studies implicate a role for genetic factors. Simultaneously, data from Eastern Asia and among Chinese immigrants in North America indicate increasing incidence trends for Hodgkin's lymphoma being associated with westernization. These results emphasize an interaction between environmental and genetic risk factors in Hodgkin's lymphoma.