title: P16 protein abnormality in Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been detected in lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx and lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas in various organs. Ten percent of gastric carcinomas, including lymphepithelioma-like carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, are associated with EBV infection. The p16 protein is a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor that decelerates the cell cycle, inactivating the CDKs that phosphorylate retinoblastoma (Rb) protein.
  
  
  METHODS
  To clarify the relationship between p16 overexpression and EBV-associated gastric carcinomas, immunohistochemical analysis of p16 and detection of EBV by in situ hybridization were performed on 238 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples of gastric carcinomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The non-expression of p16 protein in EBV-positive and -negative carcinoma was 81.5% (53 out of 65 samples) and 26.6% (46 out of 173 samples), respectively (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that the carcinogenesis of EBV-associated gastric cancers may be closely associated with a p16 abnormality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gunma Prefecture Saiseikai-Maebashi Hospital, 564-1 Kami-shinden, Maebashi, Gunma 371-0821, Japan. hojima@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ojima
authors.forename: Kana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Ei
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yamaki
authors.forename: Akihito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Idetu
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hosouchi
authors.forename: Yasuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Katuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tukada
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwano
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019942:Genes, p16 / Q000502:physiology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16