Involvement of the Epstein-Barr Virus in the Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Pathogenesis

Overview

Journal Med Oncol

Publisher Springer

Specialty Oncology

Date 2005 Jun 21

PMID 15965273

Citations 24

Authors

Javier S Burgos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to discuss the relevance of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), analyzing the variations of several molecules potentially involved in the pathogenesis of this cancer. EBV was detected in all the NPC samples by several techniques including PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical methodologies. CD21 membrane receptor was absent after EBV infection, being a differential morphological feature of the tumoral cells. Latent membrane protein-1 (LMP1), an oncogenic viral product, was detected in a high percentage of samples, supporting a role for EBV in the pathogenesis of NPC. Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein up-regulated by LMP1, was also overexpressed, coinciding with the majority of samples positive for LMP1. Finally, p53 presented abnormalities only in a low percentage of samples. These results reinforce the role of the EBV in the NPC discussing several potential mechanisms of pathogenesis in this neoplasia.

Citing Articles

Pathogenesis and therapeutic implications of EBV-associated epithelial cancers.

Low Y, Loh C, Peh D, Chu A, Han S, Toh H Front Oncol. 2023; 13:1202117.

PMID: 37901329 PMC: 10600384. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1202117.

The Role of EBV-Encoded LMP1 in the NPC Tumor Microenvironment: From Function to Therapy.

Lo A, Dawson C, Lung H, Wong K, Young L Front Oncol. 2021; 11:640207.

PMID: 33718235 PMC: 7947715. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.640207.

Correlation of P38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Expression to Clinical Stage in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Farhat F, Daulay E, Chrestella J, Asnir R, Yudhistira A, Susilo R Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018; 6(11):1982-1985.

PMID: 30559847 PMC: 6290411. DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2018.355.

Identification of long non-coding RNA CCAT1 as an oncogene in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Dong Y, Yuan H, Jin G Oncol Lett. 2018; 16(2):2750-2756.

PMID: 30013670 PMC: 6036608. DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8969.

The role of long noncoding RNA-LET in cell proliferation and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its mechanism.

Chen L, Sun L, Dong L, Cui P, Xia Z, Li C Onco Targets Ther. 2017; 10:2769-2778.

PMID: 28615956 PMC: 5460646. DOI: 10.2147/OTT.S126907.

References

Imai S, Nishikawa J, Takada K . Cell-to-cell contact as an efficient mode of Epstein-Barr virus infection of diverse human epithelial cells. J Virol. 1998; 72(5):4371-8. PMC: 109667. DOI: 10.1128/JVI.72.5.4371-4378.1998. View

Hatzivassiliou E, Mosialos G . Cellular signaling pathways engaged by the Epstein-Barr virus transforming protein LMP1. Front Biosci. 2002; 7:d319-29. DOI: 10.2741/hatziva. View

Thor A, Moore DH I, Edgerton S, Kawasaki E, Reihsaus E, Lynch H . Accumulation of p53 tumor suppressor gene protein: an independent marker of prognosis in breast cancers. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1992; 84(11):845-55. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/84.11.845. View

Moorthy R, Thorley-Lawson D . All three domains of the Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein LMP-1 are required for transformation of rat-1 fibroblasts. J Virol. 1993; 67(3):1638-46. PMC: 237535. DOI: 10.1128/JVI.67.3.1638-1646.1993. View

Liebowitz D . Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: the Epstein-Barr virus association. Semin Oncol. 1994; 21(3):376-81. View

Wu T, Mann R, Epstein J, MacMahon E, Lee W, CHARACHE P . Abundant expression of EBER1 small nuclear RNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A morphologically distinctive target for detection of Epstein-Barr virus in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded carcinoma specimens. Am J Pathol. 1991; 138(6):1461-9. PMC: 1886387. View

Lane D, CRAWFORD L . T antigen is bound to a host protein in SV40-transformed cells. Nature. 1979; 278(5701):261-3. DOI: 10.1038/278261a0. View

Billaud M, Busson P, Huang D, Rousselet G, Pavlish O, Wakasugi H . Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-containing nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells express the B-cell activation antigen blast2/CD23 and low levels of the EBV receptor CR2. J Virol. 1989; 63(10):4121-8. PMC: 251025. DOI: 10.1128/JVI.63.10.4121-4128.1989. View

Lu Q, Elia G, Lucas S, Thomas J . Bcl-2 proto-oncogene expression in Epstein-Barr-virus-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Int J Cancer. 1993; 53(1):29-35. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.2910530107. View

10.

Hudson G, Farrell P, Barrell B . Two related but differentially expressed potential membrane proteins encoded by the EcoRI Dhet region of Epstein-Barr virus B95-8. J Virol. 1985; 53(2):528-35. PMC: 254667. DOI: 10.1128/JVI.53.2.528-535.1985. View

11.

Uchida J, Yasui T, Muraoka M, Kulwichit W, Raab-Traub N, Kikutani H . Mimicry of CD40 signals by Epstein-Barr virus LMP1 in B lymphocyte responses. Science. 1999; 286(5438):300-3. DOI: 10.1126/science.286.5438.300. View

12.

Klein G, GIOVANELLA B, Lindahl T, Fialkow P, Singh S, STEHLIN J . Direct evidence for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus DNA and nuclear antigen in malignant epithelial cells from patients with poorly differentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974; 71(12):4737-41. PMC: 433971. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.71.12.4737. View

13.

Fingeroth J, Weis J, Tedder T, Strominger J, Biro P, Fearon D . Epstein-Barr virus receptor of human B lymphocytes is the C3d receptor CR2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984; 81(14):4510-4. PMC: 345620. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.81.14.4510. View

14.

Burgos J, Vera-Sempere F . Immunohistochemical absence of CD21 membrane receptor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells infected by Epstein-Barr virus in Spanish patients. Laryngoscope. 2000; 110(12):2081-4. DOI: 10.1097/00005537-200012000-00020. View

15.

Burgos J, Vera-Sempere F . Analysis of EBV latency by EBER in situ hybridization in nasopharyngeal carcinoma Spanish patients. Anticancer Res. 2002; 21(6A):3921-4. View

16.

Maestro R, Dolcetti R, Gasparotto D, Doglioni C, Pelucchi S, Barzan L . High frequency of p53 gene alterations associated with protein overexpression in human squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Oncogene. 1992; 7(6):1159-66. View

17.

Epstein M, BARR Y, ACHONG B . Preliminary observations on new lymphoblast strains (EB4, EB5) from Burkitt tumours in a British and a Ugandan patient. Br J Cancer. 1966; 20(3):475-9. PMC: 2007999. DOI: 10.1038/bjc.1966.58. View

18.

Vera-Sempere F, Burgos J, Botella M, Morera C . Immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 oncoprotein in EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma correlated to histological type and survival. Histol Histopathol. 1997; 12(1):9-18. View

19.

Spruck 3rd C, Tsai Y, Huang D, Yang A, Rideout 3rd W, Gonzalez-Zulueta M . Absence of p53 gene mutations in primary nasopharyngeal carcinomas. Cancer Res. 1992; 52(17):4787-90. View

20.

Burgos J . Absence of p53 alterations in nasopharyngeal carcinoma Spanish patients with Epstein-Barr virus infection. Virus Genes. 2003; 27(3):263-8. DOI: 10.1023/a:1026347900050. View