Does the correlation between EBNA-1 and p63 expression in breast carcinomas provide a clue to tumorigenesis in Epstein-Barr virus-related breast malignancies?
Several investigators have identified Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) particles in breast carcinomas, a fact that supports a role for EBV in mammary tumorigenesis. The possible mechanism involved in this process is not clear. The present study was carried out in an attempt to determine whether there is a relationship between latent infection with EBV and p53 and p63 expression in breast carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry developed with 3.3-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride was performed in 85 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast carcinomas using anti-EBV EBNA-1, anti-p63, anti-p53, anti-estrogen receptor (ER) and anti-progesterone receptor (PR) antibodies. The cases were selected to represent each of the various histologic types: intraductal carcinoma (N=12), grade I invasive ductal carcinoma (N=15), grade II invasive ductal carcinoma (N=15), grade III invasive ductal carcinoma (N=15), tubular carcinoma (N=8), lobular carcinoma (N=10), and medullary carcinoma (N=10). The ductal breast carcinomas were graded I, II and III based on the Scarff-Bloom and Richardson grading system modified by Elston and Ellis. One slide containing at least 1000 neoplastic cells was examined in each case. ER, PR, p63, p53 and EBNA-1 were positive in 60, 40, 11.8, 21.2 and 37.6% of carcinomas, respectively. There was a correlation between EBNA-1 and p63 expression (P<0.001), but not between EBNA-1 and p53 (P=0.10). These data suggest a possible role for p63 in the mammary tumorigenesis associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection.
Ribeiro-Silva
A
A
Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. ardsilva@rpa.fmrp.usp.br
Ramalho
L N Z
LN
Garcia
S B
SB
Zucoloto
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C115051:TP63 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C417029:EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1