J Korean Cancer Assoc.  1999 Jun;31(3):429-440.

Expression of p53 Protein and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen in Epstein - Barr Virus-associated Gastric Adenocarcinoma

• Kang JH
• Lee CH
• Suh KS

Abstract

PURPOSE: Recently, it has been reported that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with some gastric cancers. But EBVs role in EBV-associated gastric carcinomas (EBVaGCs) has not been fully elucidated. This study was undertaken to evaluate the characteristics of EBVaGCs and to compare those with non-EBVaGCs.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
EBV infection was studied using paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 119 cases of gastric adenocarcinomas by in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs). In EBVaGCs and non-EBVaGCs, molecular characteristics were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for latent membrane protein (LMP)-1, p53 protein, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).
RESULTS
EBERs were detected in 12 cases (10.1%) of 119 gastric adenocarcinomas. LMP-1 was negative in all carcinomas tested, p53 protein was positive in 7 cases (58.3%) of 12 EBVaGCs and in 51 (47.7%) of 107 non-EBVaGCs, the difference between two groups being not significant. Mean PCNA index was 38.2+-26.1% in EBVaGCs and 22.8 +- 20.0% in non-EBVaGCs. The index was significantly higher in the former than in the latter.
CONCLUSION
These results suggested that neoplastic progression in EBVaGCs was implicated with high expression of PCNA, but not consistently with overexpression of p53 protein or LMP-1.

Keyword

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); Gastric adcnocarcinoma; LMP-1; p53 protein; PCNA

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma*
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections
Herpesvirus 4, Human
In Situ Hybridization
Membrane Proteins
Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen*
RNA
Stomach Neoplasms
Membrane Proteins
Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
RNA