Absence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma confirmed by lack of EBV-coded nuclear RNA and latent membrane protein-1.
OBJECTIVE
Studies are disclosing that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is involved in the aetiology of various neoplasms including undifferentiated carcinomas of the aerodigestive tract. The aetiology of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), a malignant neoplasm arising from intrahepatic biliary epithelia, has yet to be fully evaluated. To date, two cases of EBV-related ICC have been reported, and they presented foci of lymphoepitheliomatous undifferentiated carcinoma components.


RESULTS
To determine whether EBV is commonly involved in the developments of ICC, we performed in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry for EBV in 215 cases of ICC in Japan, using a probe against EBV-coded nuclear RNA (EBER) and a specific antibody against latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1), respectively. We did not detect EBV-infected carcinoma cells in any of the ICC cases examined. No lymphoepitheliomatous undifferentiated carcinoma components were found either.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that EBV infection is unlikely to be involved in the pathogenesis of ICC.
Ozaki
S
S
Department of Pathology (II), Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan.
Harada
K
K
Watanabe
K
K
Furubo
S
S
Tsui
W M
WM
Nakanuma
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; C099537:Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA 1; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins