Latent Epstein-Barr virus infection demonstrated in low-grade leiomyosarcomas of adults with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, but not in adjacent Kaposi's lesion or smooth muscle tumors in immunocompetent patients.
BACKGROUND
Incidence of smooth muscle tumors is increased in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection and organ transplant recipients. Smooth muscle tumors in immunocompromised patients often occur in unusual locations and exhibit evidence of latent infection by clonal, presumably tumorigenic, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of EBV latent infection in smooth muscle tumors in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and in immunocompetent patients.


METHODS
Twenty-two extrauterine, extraintestinal smooth muscle and myofibroblastic tumors were reviewed pathologically, and clinical charts were screened. Tumors were malignant (15 patients), benign (6 patients), and borderline (1 patient). Tissue specimens were investigated for latent EBV infection by latent membrane protein immunocytochemistry and EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization.


METHODS
University Hospital of the University of Nancy, France.


METHODS
Patients were 18 adults and four children. Two adults had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Both had low-grade leiomyosarcomas located in adrenal gland. Moreover, in patient 1, leiomyosarcoma was multifocal in pericardium and lymph node; in lymph node, muscle tumor was adjacent to nodal and skin Kaposi's lesions.


RESULTS
In both patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and leiomyosarcoma, latent infection by EBV could be demonstrated in tumor cells, contrasting with absence of detectable EBV infection in adjacent non-neoplastic tissues and nearby Kaposi's lesions. Latent infection by EBV could not be demonstrated in smooth muscle and myofibroblastic tumors in immunocompetent patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Latent EBV infection is associated with smooth muscle cell tumors in immunocompromised patients, but not in immunocompetent patients.
Boman
F
F
Department of Pathology, Calmette Hospital, Lille, France.
Gultekin
H
H
Dickman
P S
PS
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007223:Infant; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018235:Smooth Muscle Tumor / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D017735:Virus Latency
D012367:RNA, Viral