Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract: an immunohistochemical analysis demonstrating latent Epstein-Barr virus in a subset of eight cases.
BACKGROUND
Sarcomatoid or spindle cell carcinomas are rare malignancies which are considered as a poorly differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with a wide variety of malignancies.


METHODS
We examined the expression of EBV latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) and EBV EBNA-2 as well as the immunohistochemical profile of AE-1/AE-3, vimentin, desmin, CK 5-6, smooth muscle actin (SMA), p63, S-100, p53 and CD-117 with the clinicopathological correlation of eight patients of sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) in the upper aerodigestive tract.


RESULTS
Four cases showed EBV LMP-1 positivity (50%) and there was no EBV EBNA-2 positivity. However, the EBV LMP-1 results of our series could be considered only as a coincidental finding in the SCs of the upper aerodigestive tract.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding supports the idea that further studies based on larger series might be helpful enlighting the role played by EBV in carcinogenesis of SC.
Department of Pathology, Tepecik Research and Training Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. demetetit@yahoo.com
Demet
D
Etit
Deniz
D
Altinel
Umit
U
Bayol
Ayca
A
Tan
Suheyla
S
Cumurcu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012142:Respiratory Tract Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D004279:DNA, Viral; C402641:EBNA-2 protein, Human herpesvirus 4; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins