Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in lower gastrointestinal tract lymphomas: a study in Malaysian patients.
BACKGROUND
Many studies in the literature have shown that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several human lymphoid and epithelial malignancies. However, the prevalence of EBV in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) of the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract has not been fully elucidated.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the presence and distribution of EBV in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples obtained from 18 Malaysian patients diagnosed with NHL of the lower GI tract.


METHODS
The GI tract lymphoma tissue samples analyzed for the presence of EBV were divided into the following groups: NHL of the small intestine (seven cases); NHL of the ileocecum (ten cases); and NHL of the rectum (one case). The presence of EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) in all of the above tissue samples was tested for using conventional in situ hybridization technology.


RESULTS
Two of 18 cases (11.1%) of NHL of the lower GI tract demonstrated positive signals for EBV/EBER. In the first positive case, EBV/EBER signals were located in lymphoma cells in the serosa layer of the small intestine. In the second EBV/EBER-positive case, EBV/EBER signals were detected in diffuse B-cell lymphoma of the ileocecum.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate a rare association between EBV and lower GI tract lymphomas in this group of Malaysian patients.
Yunos
Asmah M
AM
Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Jaafar
Hasnan
H
Idris
Fauziah M
FM
Kaur
Gurjeet
G
Mabruk
Mohamed J E M F
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D041741:Lower Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000821:virology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D004279:DNA, Viral