We describe the clinical and pathological characteristics of seven patients who were human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) carriers and had a pathological diagnosis of de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Interestingly, three of our cases showed positive expression of Epstein-Barr-virus, (EBV-) encoded RNA within the tumor cells indicating a possible interaction between these two viruses. Furthermore, our three EBV-positive cases presented with similar clinical characteristics such as early clinical stage and low-risk indices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case series describing the characteristics of HTLV-1-positive DLBCL patients. The potential relationship between HTLV-1 and EBV should be further explored. 1. Introduction Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common variant of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) accounting for approximately 30% of the NHL cases worldwide [1]. Previous reports have associated certain viral infections with the development of DLBCL. For example, HIV-infected individuals have a higher risk of developing DLBCL than the general population. Additionally, the most recent WHO classification has included a provisional entity, EBV-positive DLBCL of the elderly, which seems to be associated with an aggressive clinical course and worse outcome [2]. In general, it is thought that HIV-infected and other immunocompromised individuals are more likely to develop EBV-positive DLBCL. The human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus regarded as the pathogenic agent for adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia (ATLL) [3]. HTLV-1 is endemic in Japan, the Melanesian Islands, the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. The prevalence of HTLV-1 in Europe and USA is <1%. However, in Peru, up to 3% of the healthy adult population carries HTLV-1 [4, 5]. Chronic HTLV-1 infection has been associated with immunosuppression and an increased risk of developing other benign and malignant conditions [6]. As the association between HTLV-1 infection and DLBCL has not been previously evaluated, in this study, we aimed to describe the clinical and pathological characteristics of HTLV-1-positive patients with a pathological diagnosis of DLBCL. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Case Selection Cases with a pathological diagnosis of de novo DLBCL and concurrent positive serology for HTLV-1 were identified from the medical oncology consultation files at the Edgardo Rebagliati Martins and Jose Alcides Carrion Hospitals, both located in Lima, Peru, from January 2000 to December 2010. Patients with a diagnosis of
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