Loss of expression of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-2 correlates with a poor prognosis in cases of pyothorax-associated lymphoma.
Pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL) is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which develops in the pleural cavity of patients who have had pyothorax for over 20 years, and is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The expression of latent genes, especially EBV nuclear antigen-2 (EBNA-2), influences the growth characteristics and malignant features of EBV-infected cells. Here, the effect of EBNA-2 expression on clinical features was examined in 13 cases of PAL. The EBNA-2 transcript was detected in 8 cases but was absent in 5. There was a significant difference in survival between patients with the transcripts and those without: the 1-year survival rate was 87.5 and 0%, respectively (p < 0.01). There was a discrepancy between EBNA-2 expression and EBNA promoter usage in 6 cases. The Cp/Wp promoter was used in 3 EBNA-2-negative cases, whereas the Qp promoter or multiple promoters were used in 3 EBNA-2-positive cases. Analysis of PAL cell lines provided a clue as to the mechanism underlying the discrepancy between EBNA-2 expression and EBNA promoter usage. Loss of EBNA-2 expression, irrespective of the latency pattern, is correlated with a poor prognosis, suggesting that down-regulation of the EBNA-2 expression could be selection pressure for the progression of PAL.
Takakuwa
Tetsuya
T
Department of Pathology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Ham
Maria Francisca
MF
Luo
Wen-Juan
WJ
Nakatsuka
Shin-ichi
S
Daibata
Masanori
M
Aozasa
Katsuyuki
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015536:Down-Regulation; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000150:complications*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens