[Epstein-Barr virus infection in lymphoepithelial carcinoma of salivary glands in Sichuan Chinese].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) of salivary glands in Sichuan Chinese and discuss the role of EBV infection in pathogenesis of LEC.


METHODS
Paraffin sections of 16 cases of LEC and 4 cases of benign lymphoepithelial lesion (BLEL) of salivary glands, 4 cases of non-specific chronic sialadenitis were examined by in situ hybridization for EBV encoded small RNA-1 (EBER-1) using 30-base synthesized oligonucleotide probe.


RESULTS
Strong signals for EBER-1 were obtained in most of tumor cell nuclei in all the specimens of LEC (16/16); in contrast, there were no significant signals observed in the examination of 4 cases of BLEL and 4 cases of non-specific chronic sialadenitis.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that EBV plays an important role in the pathogenesis of LEC of salivary glands in Sichuan Chinese.
West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Lan-yan
LY
Wu
Jun
J
Cheng
Yong
Y
Lu
Zhi-yu
ZY
Zhou
T
T
Saku
D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000821:virology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*