[The Significance of Detecting EB Virus and Its Products in Benign and Malignant Lymphoepithelial Lesions of the Salivary Glands]

Objective: To study the relationship between EB virus and benign malignant lymphoepithelial Lesions (ELEL) and malignant lymphoepithelial lesions (MLEL).

Methods: In situ hybridization, polymeras Chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemical methods were used to detect EBV DNA, EBER1 and latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) on paraffin embedded tissues of 18 MLEL cases and 14 BLEL cases.

Results: (1) Positive rates for Bam H1 W fragmet by PCR and EBER1 by in situ hybridization in 18 cases of MLEL were both 100%. Positive rates of EBV DNA by PCR and EBER1 by in situ hybridization in 14 cases of BLEL were both zero percent. (2) LMP1 expression was detected in 77.8% (14/18) of MLEL, EBNA2 was examined in 9 cases of MLEL and no expression was found. (3) Among the infiltrating lymphocytes studied by immunohistochemistry, T cells predominated over B cells in MLEL, B cells predominated over T cells in BLEL. (4) Of the 216 cases of salivary gland cancer, 37 cases could satisfy the criteria for MLEL. The incidence of MLEL in this group was 17.13% (37/216).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that EBV infection may have some relationship with the genesis of MLEL.