[Association of epstein-barr virus with lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the lung].

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between pulmonary lymphoepithelima-like carcinoma (LELC) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

METHODS

30 cases of LELC and 19 cases of non LELC pulmonary pulmonary specimens were studied by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry techniques to detect EB virus small RNA (EBERs), latent menbrane protein-1 (LMP-1) and virus capsid antigen (VCA).

RESULTS

The detection rates for EBER, LMP-1 and VCA were 93.3% (28/30), 53.3% (16/30) and 23.3% (7/30) respectively. LMP-1 positive carcinoma cells were not found in the 19 non-LELC specimens, which were used as the controls.

CONCLUSION

Pulmonary LELC is closely associated with latent EBV infection and may be an important factor involved in the development and progression of LELC. In addition, EBV lytic gene products may sometimes be found in a small portion of LELC cells.