Epstein-Barr-virus-associated medullary carcinomas with lymphoid infiltration of the stomach.
The association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with gastric medullary carcinoma with lymphoid infiltration (GMCL) was investigated. The presence of GMCL exhibited a 2/1 male-to-female ratio and a 1/2 early-to-advanced cancer ratio, predominantly located in the cardia and corpus of the stomach (90%). The presence of EBV DNA could be proven in 28 out of 30 GMCL cases (93%) by the polymerase chain reaction method, and in 27 cases (90%) latent infection of EBV strictly limited to cancer cells was identified by in situ hybridization with RNA using an EBV-associated small RNAs (EBERs) probe. No histopathological difference was noted between EBERs-positive and -negative groups. Monoclonal EBV infection, identified by the length of lymphocyte-determined membrane antigen variable tandem repeats, was suggested in 19 out of 27 EBERs-positive cases (70.3%). However, only one case showed a positive reaction for anti-(latent membrane protein)-1 antibody, and none of the EBERs-positive cases bound anti-EBNA-2 antibodies, the respective antigens being considered oncoproteins directly linked with EBV-related B cell lymphomagenesis. In conclusion, while EBV is clearly present at extremely high incidence in GMCL, having characteristics biological features, a role for EBV in tumorigenesis of such lesions remains uncertain.
Takano
Y
Y
Department of Pathology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Kato
Y
Y
Sugano
H
H
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000382:microbiology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral