Does Epstein-Barr virus infection have an influence on the development of laryngeal carcinoma? Detection of EBV by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction in tumour tissues of patients with laryngeal carcinoma.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a well-known carcinogenic virus, and the association of EBV with some tumours suggests that there may also be an association between laryngeal carcinoma and EBV.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to determine the role of EBV in the aetiology of laryngeal carcinoma.


METHODS
Prospective investigation the EBV with real time polymerase chain reaction in tumour tissues of 25 patients with laryngeal carcinoma and 17 patients with benign laryngeal lesions, and investigation of the relationship between the presence of viral DNA and patients' smoking habits, alcohol consumption, localization and differentiation of the tumour.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the control group and patient group in terms of EBV polymerase chain reaction positivity (p > 0.05). Also we couldn't find a statistically significant relationship between EBV positivity and differentiation of the tumour, localization of the tumour, smoking and alcohol consumption habits (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that, although EBV is present in some of the squamous cell laryngeal carcinomas, its presence has no effect on the pathogenesis of laryngeal carcinomas.
Department of Microbiology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. togaymuderris@yahoo.com
Tuba
T
Muderris
Seyyal
S
Rota
Togay
T
Muderris
Erdogan
E
Inal
Isil
I
Fidan
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D004279:DNA, Viral