Epstein-Barr virus plays no role in the tumorigenesis of small-cell carcinoma of the lung.
Epstein-Barr virus infection has been associated with lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung in Asian patients. Recently, Epstein-Barr virus proteins or genomic DNAs were detected in pulmonary squamous-cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and undifferentiated small-cell carcinoma in American patients. We studied 23 cases of small-cell carcinoma of the lung for evidence of Epstein-Barr virus infection by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction methods. Of the 23 cases, 13 cases were primary small-cell carcinoma of the lung and 10 cases were metastatic small-cell carcinoma of the lung to the brain (one case), liver (two cases), and lymph nodes (seven cases). None of the 23 cases was positive for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small nonpolyadenylated RNA (EBER)-1 by in situ hybridization. By immunohistochemistry, eight cases showed focal positivity for Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1. The positive immunostaining was focal and was observed in tumor cells, vascular endothelial cells, and lymphocytes, suggesting nonspecific staining. None of the 23 cases was positive for the transactivating immediate-early BZLF1 (ZEBRA) and latent membrane protein (LMP-1). Only one case was positive for the BamHI W region and LMP-1 gene by polymerase chain reaction assay. Some tumor cells in the BamHI W region positive case were also positive for Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1. Our study indicates that rare cases of American small-cell carcinoma of the lung may contain Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells, but it is unlikely that Epstein-Barr virus plays a role in the tumorigenesis of small-cell carcinoma of the lung.
Chu
Peiguo G
PG
Department of Pathology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
Cerilli
Lisa
L
Chen
Yuan-Yuan
YY
Mills
Stacey E
SE
Weiss
Lawrence M
LM
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000556:secondary / Q000821:virology*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor