Epstein-Barr virus in tobacco-induced oral cancers and oral lesions in patients from India.

We examined 103 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), 100 oral lesions consisting primarily of leukoplakia (82 cases), and 76 clinically normal mucosa specimens from the contralateral site in the oral cavity of individuals with oral lesions, for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a 239 bp fragment of the BamHIL region of the EBV genome, followed by Southern blot hybridization with EBV oligonucleotide probe to increase further the specificity and sensitivity of the assay system. Since EBV seropositivity is frequent in populations, we also examined the peripheral blood cells (PBC) from 141 patients (50 oral cancer patients, 91 patients with oral lesions) for the presence of EBV. We detected EBV in 25 of 103 (25%) OSCC, 13 of 100 (13%) oral lesions, 3 of 76 (4%) clinically normal mucosa samples and 10 of 141 (7%) PBC. Our results indicate that EBV may contribute as one of the multiple factors in oral cancers, in a certain proportion of Indian patients.