Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung

Mod Pathol. 1991 Mar;4(2):264-8.

Abstract

A case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung is reported in a Chinese patient with serologic evidence of previous Epstein-Barr (EBV) infection. EBV genomes were detected in the tumor using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH) from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. The use of both techniques afforded the exquisite sensitivity of PCR to detect a few copies of EBV DNA with the ability of ISH to precisely localize EBV to the carcinoma, but not to the lymphoid stroma. These findings support a potential oncogenic relationship between EBV and lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / microbiology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / microbiology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA, Viral