Demonstration of Epstein-Barr virus in carcinomas of various sites.
EBV is an etiological agent in infectious mononucleosis, is implicated in some malignant lymphomas and lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas, and has been sporadically reported in carcinomas of the breast, lung, and other sites. We studied immunohistochemically benign and malignant tumors of the breast, lung, colon, and prostate and found EBV in some carcinomas of those sites. Also, EBV reactions were noted in hyperplasias and dysplasias, e.g., breast carcinomas in situ and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Benign tumor counterparts were negative. PCR analysis of selected cases confirmed the presence of EBV. Our results suggest that EBV is not restricted to lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas but may play an oncogenic role in frequent epithelial cancers and possibly also in hyperplasias and certain dysplasias preceding carcinomas.
Grinstein
Saul
S
Virology Laboratory, Ricardo Gutierrez Children's Hospital, CP (1425) Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Preciado
Maria Victoria
MV
Gattuso
Paolo
P
Chabay
Paola A
PA
Warren
William H
WH
De Matteo
Elena
E
Gould
Victor E
VE
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000821:virology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics
D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; C417029:EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1