High frequency of EBV association and 30-bp deletion in the LMP-1 gene in CD56 lymphomas of the upper aerodigestive tract.
Natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphomas are frequently associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and usually lack TCR gene rearrangement. Studies from Asia have reported frequent deletion in the LMP-1 gene in EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The present study aims to investigate LMP-1 and TCRgamma gene status in upper aerodigestive tract lymphomas. A total of 43 cases were classified into T-, B-, and NK/T-cell tumors based on the phenotype expressions of CD3(+)/CD20(-)/CD56(-), CD3(-)/CD20(+)/CD56(-), and CD3(+)/CD20(-)/CD56(+), respectively. The presence of EBV in the tumor was confirmed by EBV early RNA-in situ hybridization. LMP-1 gene deletion and TCR gamma gene rearrangement were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction on paraffin-embedded tissues. There were 20 NK/T-, eight T-, and 15 B-cell phenotype lymphomas in the present series, and EBV was detected in 19 (95%), two (25%), and three (20%) cases in the respective groups. All EBV+ cases carried 30-bp deletion in the LMP-1 gene, and two of the NK/T-cell cases were infected by both the wild type and deleted strains. Five (25%) of the NK/T-cell phenotype lymphomas showed rearranged TCR gamma gene. The present study revealed a high frequency of EBV association, and a high frequency of 30-bp deletion in the LMP-1 gene in the virus in the present series of lymphoma. The NK/T-phenotype lymphomas are comprised of both NK-cell and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-derived tumors.
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Yan-Chin
YC
Tai
Lian-Hua
LH
Kim
Suat-Cheng
SC
Peh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000473:pathology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D019002:CD56 Antigen; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins