Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in Japanese Patients

Abstract

Of 38 Japanese patients with nasopharyngeal malignancies, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and neck metastasis were investigated. Thirty-three patients had nasopharyngeal carcinoma: moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded surgical specimens were studied by in situ hybridization technique detecting EBER 1, which is EBV-encoded, small molecular nonpolyadenylated RNA. “EBER 1 positive” rates of moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma were 29%, 80%, and 88%, respectively. On the other hand, neck metastasis in each group was found 71%, 70%, and 75%, respectively. The possible role of EBV in nasopharyngeal carcinoma was discussed.