Research Spotlight: Hepatitis B Virus Exposure
Associated with Worse Overall Survival in T- and
Natural Killer-Cell Lymphomas
Research Spotlight: Hepatitis B Virus Exposure
Associated with Worse Overall Survival in T- and
Natural Killer-Cell Lymphomas
Research Spotlight: Hepatitis B Virus Exposure
Associated with Worse Overall Survival in T- and
Natural Killer-Cell Lymphomas
By Katrina Fu
By Katrina Fu
Colin Thomas, MD
Colin Thomas, MD
In this Q&A, lead author, Colin Thomas, MD, Co-investigator
of PETAL Consortium at University of Pennsylvania,
discusses his paper, “Clinical Outcomes of Mature T- and
NK-Cell Lymphomas in Hepatitis B Virus Positive
Individuals: Results from the PETAL Global Consortium”
published in Leukemia and Lymphoma.
In this Q&A, lead author, Colin Thomas, MD, Co-investigator of PETAL Consortium at University of Pennsylvania, discusses his paper, “Clinical Outcomes of Mature T- and
NK-Cell Lymphomas in Hepatitis B Virus Positive Individuals: Results from the PETAL Global Consortium” published in Leukemia and Lymphoma.
How would you summarize your study?
How would you summarize your study?
This study examined whether a past or current hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection influences outcomes in people with T-cell and natural killer (NK)-cell lymphomas whose disease returned after treatment or did not respond to treatment (relapsed/refractory [R/R]). Using data from PETAL Consortium, we compared patients with and without signs of HBV exposure.
We found that patients with HBV exposure had worse survival overall, especially in one subtype called anaplastic large cell lymphoma. While the reason is unclear, the findings suggest HBV status may influence prognosis and should be considered in future research and treatment planning.
This study examined whether a past or current hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection influences outcomes in people with T-cell and natural killer (NK)-cell lymphomas whose disease returned after treatment or did not respond to treatment (relapsed/refractory [R/R]). Using data from PETAL Consortium, we compared patients with and without signs of HBV exposure.
We found that patients with HBV exposure had worse survival overall, especially in one subtype called anaplastic large cell lymphoma. While the reason is unclear, the findings suggest HBV status may influence prognosis and should be considered in future research and treatment planning.
What did your study investigate?
What did your study investigate?
We asked whether prior or current HBV exposure affects clinical features and survival outcomes in patients with R/R T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas.
We asked whether prior or current HBV exposure affects clinical features and survival outcomes in patients with R/R T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas.
Why did you want to research this topic?
Why did you want to research this topic?
Many cancers worldwide are linked to viral infections. HBV is well known for causing liver cancer, and growing evidence shows it also increases the risk and worsens outcomes of certain B-cell lymphomas. However, very little is known about how HBV affects T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas, which are rarer and often aggressive. Given HBV’s ability to infect immune cells and the global burden of both HBV and these lymphomas, we wanted to better understand whether HBV exposure influences clinical features or survival in these patients.
Many cancers worldwide are linked to viral infections. HBV is well known for causing liver cancer, and growing evidence shows it also increases the risk and worsens outcomes of certain B-cell lymphomas. However, very little is known about how HBV affects T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas, which are rarer and often aggressive. Given HBV’s ability to infect immune cells and the global burden of both HBV and these lymphomas, we wanted to better understand whether HBV exposure influences clinical features or survival in these patients.
What methods or approach did you use?
What methods or approach did you use?
We analyzed a large international retrospective cohort from PETAL Consortium, comparing patients with and without hepatitis B core antibody positivity using standard statistical and survival analyses.
We analyzed a large international retrospective cohort from PETAL Consortium, comparing patients with and without hepatitis B core antibody positivity using standard statistical and survival analyses.
What did you find?
What did you find?
We found that HBV exposure was associated with worse overall survival, particularly in anaplastic large cell lymphoma, along with differences in immune cell counts and disease involvement–where the disease is in the body and how much of the body is affected.
We found that HBV exposure was associated with worse overall survival, particularly in anaplastic large cell lymphoma, along with differences in immune cell counts and disease involvement–where the disease is in the body and how much of the body is affected.
What are the implications?
What are the implications?
Our findings suggest that HBV exposure may influence prognosis in certain T-cell lymphoma subtypes, highlighting the importance of assessing HBV status in these patients. Clinically, this may prompt closer monitoring and more thoughtful treatment planning.
Next steps include future studies that track HBV status over time, look at how well antiviral medications prevent HBV from coming back, and explore the biology behind any possible connection between HBV and T-cell lymphomas.
Our findings suggest that HBV exposure may influence prognosis in certain T-cell lymphoma subtypes, highlighting the importance of assessing HBV status in these patients. Clinically, this may prompt closer monitoring and more thoughtful treatment planning.
Next steps include future studies that track HBV status over time, look at how well antiviral medications prevent HBV from coming back, and explore the biology behind any possible connection between HBV and T-cell lymphomas.
Disclosure:
Study authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this paper.
Study authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this paper.
Funding:
Funding:
This work was supported by MGH Lymphoma Research Sundry Funds.
Jain is supported by the National Cancer Institute K08 Career Development Award #K08CA230498.
This work was supported by MGH Lymphoma Research Sundry Funds.
Jain is supported by the National Cancer Institute K08 Career Development Award #K08CA230498.
Paper cited:
Paper cited:
Thomas, C et al.
“Clinical Outcomes of Mature T- and NK-Cell Lymphomas in Hepatitis B Virus Positive Individuals: Results from the PETAL Global Consortium”
DOI:doi.org/10.1080/10428194.2026.2629953
Thomas, C et al.
“Clinical Outcomes of Mature T- and NK-Cell Lymphomas in Hepatitis B Virus Positive Individuals: Results from the PETAL Global Consortium”
DOI:doi.org/10.1080/10428194.2026.2629953
For Healthcare Professionals
@2025 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved
For Healthcare Professionals
@2025 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved
For Healthcare Professionals
@2025 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved