Association of p53 and BCL-2 expression with Epstein-Barr virus infection in the cancers of head and neck.
BACKGROUND
Reports that have both evaluated the site-specific Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and compared it with the expression of the EBV-related proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in the various cancers of head and neck are scarce.


METHODS
Thirty-eight nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cases, 32 oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma (OPC/HPC) cases, and 93 laryngeal carcinoma (LC) cases were evaluated with in situ hybridization on EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) and immunohistochemical assessments of the p53, bcl-2, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by use of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue array slides.


RESULTS
The expression of viral EBERs was observed in more than two thirds (71.1%) of the NPC cases. In contrast, only 1 case of OPC and none of the HPC or LC cases exhibited EBV positivity. In the nonkeratinizing NPC, the EBV positivity was significantly associated with both frequent p53 overexpression (p =.033) and bcl-2 expression (p =.001). In the EBV-positive nonkeratinizing NPC, a correlation between p53 overexpression and the tumor infiltration lymphocyte (TIL) density was noted (p =.012).


CONCLUSIONS
A site-specific expression of viral EBER was demonstrated in the head and neck cancers, which suggests an important role for both p53 and bcl-2 in the carcinogenesis of an EBV-infected NPC. The correlation between p53 overexpression and the TIL density in the EBV-infected NPC suggests that the product of a lymphoepithelial interaction, such as A20, can induce a dysfunctional p53 protein.
Yang
H J
HJ
Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-799, Korea.
Cho
Y J
YJ
Kim
H S
HS
Chang
M S
MS
Sung
M W
MW
Kim
W H
WH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D066246:ErbB Receptors