Association of Epstein-Barr virus and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Caucasian patients

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2002 Mar;111(3 Pt 1):210-6. doi: 10.1177/000348940211100304.

Abstract

We evaluated the association of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in Spanish patients, and studied the expression of EBV products (latent membrane protein-1 [LMP-1] and ZEBRA proteins) by NPC cells and its possible prognostic value. In situ hybridization (ISH) for EBV-encoded nonpolyadenylated RNAs (EBERs) and immunohistochemical expression of LMP-1 and ZEBRA proteins by immunohistochemistry were examined in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NPC specimens from 30 patients, and a survival analysis was done by the Kaplan-Meier method. We detected EBERs by ISH in 96.67% of the NPC cases, and detected expression of LMP-I in 43.33% of the NPC cases and expression of ZEBRA protein in 6.67% of the NPC cases. We conclude that ISH for expression of EBERs is an adequate method for detection of EBV in NPC. LMP-1 is not frequently expressed in NPC cells (43.33%). Most NPC cells carry a latent EBV infection. LMP-1 expression might have worsened the prognosis of NPC in our series.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / complications*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / virology*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Ribosomal Proteins*
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Survival Analysis
  • Trans-Activators / analysis
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / analysis
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins*
  • White People / genetics*

Substances

  • BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus
  • RNA, Viral
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Ribosomal Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • RPL22 protein, human