[Adenocarcinomas of the stomach and distal esophagus. Incidence and phenotypic characteristics of EBV-associated cases in the Lyons area, France].
OBJECTIVE
Our study aimed to evaluate the incidence of EBV-associated adenocarcinomas of the stomach and distal esophagus in Lyons area and to assess their phenotypic characteristics.


METHODS
85 cases of gastric adenocarcinomas and 40 cases of esophageal adenocarcinomas were screened for EBV by in situ hybridization (EBER-1 and -2) and immunohistochemistry (LMP1 and EBNA-1); all cases positive for EBER by in situ hybridization were studied by PCR for demonstration of EBV DNA. The clinical, histological and immunophenotypic features of EBV-associated adenocarcinomas were assessed.


RESULTS
5 cases of EBV-associated adenocarcinomas, all gastric, were identified in our series (5.8%); one was diagnosed in a migrant from Algeria, a region of high endemia of EBV infection. 3 cases were located in the proximal stomach, 1 in the distal; 1 was diffuse. 4 cases were of the intestinal histological type. Proliferation index and microvessel density were high in all 5 cases. The expression of tumor markers was markedly heterogeneous from one case to another.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that EBV infection is restricted to gastric adenocarcinomas. Its incidence is evaluated to 5.8% in our series: this shows that Lyons area must be considered as a low risk area. In the absence of specific histological or phenotypic features, the screening of EBV+gastric adenocarcinomas is possible only with special techniques.
Service Central d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon.
Rabah
R
Kerroucha
Valérie
V
Hervieu
Marie-Laure
ML
Chambonnière
Florence
F
Mège-Lechevallier
Gilles
G
Poncet
Jean
J
Boulez
Philippe
P
Tanière
Jean-Yves
JY
Scoazec
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis
D004279:DNA, Viral; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; C099537:Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA 1; C106732:Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA 2; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C417029:EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1