P16 protein abnormality in Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinomas.
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.
Ojima
Hitoshi
H
Department of Surgery, Gunma Prefecture Saiseikai-Maebashi Hospital, 564-1 Kami-shinden, Maebashi, Gunma 371-0821, Japan. hojima@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
Saito
Kana
K
Yamauchi
Hayato
H
Yamaki
Ei
E
Idetu
Akihito
A
Hosouchi
Yasuo
Y
Nishida
Yasuji
Y
Tukada
Katuhiko
K
Kato
Hiroyuki
H
Kuwano
Hiroyuki
H
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*
D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16