Epstein-Barr virus and carcinomas: undifferentiated carcinomas but not squamous cell carcinomas of the nasopharynx are regularly associated with the virus

Article Abstract:

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is thought to be involved in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). There are three types of NPC, based on the types of tissues involved: squamous cell carcinomas, non-keratinizing carcinomas and undifferentiated carcinomas. EBV has been shown to be associated with undifferentiated and non-keratinized NPC. Conflicting evidence exists as to whether EBV is also associated with squamous cell NPC. EBV has been associated with other epithelial tumors, and squamous cell NPC is such a tumor. These epithelial tumors include: carcinomas of the tonsil; tumors of the thymus; and some carcinomas of the salivary glands. The structure of the cells from these tumors is similar to that in undifferentiated NPC. A study was conducted examining the presence of EBV in 152 epithelial tumors from various sites including squamous cell NPC, undifferentiated NPC, tonsillar carcinomas, carcinomas of the cervix and tumors from other sites that have a similar structure as undifferentiated NPC. EBV was found in 88 percent of the undifferentiated NPCs. EBV was not found in any of the 8 squamous cell NPCs, nor in any of the 15 carcinomas that were structurally related to undifferentiated NPCs coming from areas in the body such as thymus, tonsil and breast, nor in any thymic tumors, squamous cells carcinomas of the tonsil, or cervical carcinomas. Therefore, EBV has been shown to be present in undifferentiated NPCs and not squamous cell carcinomas. Although carcinomas from other sites in the body can structurally resemble undifferentiated NPC, they have not been found to be associated with EBV. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Cancer, Nose cancer

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Persistence of Epstein-Barr virus in Reed-Sternberg cells throughout the course of Hodgkin's disease

Article Abstract:

Various types of evidence suggest that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes Hodgkin's disease (HD). The presence of EBV was evaluated in 55 cases of HD by examining tissues for the genetic sequence of the virus. EBV was found in 17 cases (31 percent). In nine of the cases (16 percent) the virus was found in types of cells involved in the cancer, including cells known as Reed-Sternberg cells, mononuclear Hodgkin's cells and malignant cells. A wide variation was seen in the number of EBV viruses found in each patient. However, within an individual patient, samples from different sites of the body and during various stages of disease contained relatively the same amount of virus. In eight of the cases (15 percent), the virus was found in cells that were not involved in the cancer. Therefore, the presence of EBV does not imply that the virus causes cancer in all cells. EBV could not be found in 73 percent of the patients with HD. These findings do not support the theory that EBV plays a causative role in all cases of HD, but they do suggest that the Epstein-Barr virus may be involved in certain cases of Hodgkin's disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Epstein-Barr virus diseases

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Epstein-Barr viral DNA in Hodgkin's disease: amplification and detection using the polymerase chain reaction

Article Abstract:

Evidence exists that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is involved in the development of Hodgkin's disease (HD). However, EBV has only been detected in 20 to 30 percent of the cases of HD. A very sensitive technique, the polymerase chain reaction, was used to test for the presence of EBV in 57 cases of HD. The polymerase chain reaction increases the number of genetic sequences present in a sample to levels that can be detected and analyzed. The EBV genome was only detected in 58 percent of the cases (33 out of 57). However, other types of tissues were used as controls and EBV was detected in 38 percent (nine out of 24) non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, in 33 percent (three out of nine) lymph nodes from Hodgkin's patients that were not cancerous, and in 58 percent (seven out of 12) of blood samples from normal individuals. Thus the technique is sensitive enough to detect EBV in situations where an acute infection is not occurring. The technique could not differentiate between the presence of EBV in cancer or a latent infection not causing disease. Therefore, this study did not clarify the role of EBV in HD. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

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