Association of a distinctive strain of Epstein‐Barr virus with gastric cancer

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been linked to gastric carcinoma (GC) with worldwide geographical variations attributable to types and variants of EBV. Here, we compare EBV strains between EBVaGC and healthy donors in Latin America, a high frequency area for EBVaGC. Tumor samples from 73 EBVaGC cases and throat washings from 329 healthy adults were examined for types 1 and 2 EBV and polymorphism at BamHI-F and BamHI-W1/I1 boundary regions and XhoI restriction site in LMP1 gene. Type 1 and prototype F of BamHI- F polymorphism accounted 59 (81%) and 69 (95%) of EBVaGC cases and 257 (78%) and 267 (81%) of healthy donors, respectively. Types I and "i" of BamHI W1/I1 polymorphism accounted 2 (3%) and 62 (85%) of EBVaGC and 85 (26%) and 170 (52%) of healthy donors, respectively (p<0.001). XhoI+ and - polymorphism accounted 60 (82%) and 4 (5%) of EBVaGC and 142 (43%) and 92 (28%) of healthy donors, respectively (p<0.001). Cosegregation analysis demonstrated that most of the 62 type "i" EBVaGC cases harbor XhoI+ strain (81%). However, among 143 type "i" healthy adults, both XhoI polymorphism were present in relatively similar frequencies (XhoI+ 58% and XhoI- 42%) (OR 9.0; 95% CI 1.2-69). Our findings are against to the proposed hypothesis that EBV strains are geographically but not disease-restricted. We conclude that most of the EBVaGC cases harbor a distinctive EBV strain (type "i"/XhoI +), but in healthy donors, this strain was as common as other strains. This finding is contrary to the proposed hypothesis that EBV strains are geographically but not disease-restricted and identified a healthy population group that share the same strain that predominate in EBVaGC cases.

Epstein-Barr virus infection serves as an independent predictor of survival in patients with lymphoepithelioma-like gastric carcinoma

“…LELC constitutes only 1-4 % of all GCs [2][3][4] and has been described as having a favorable prognosis compared with that of ordinary GC, especially in LELCs with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection [1,[5][6][7][8][9]. EBV infection is found in more than 80 % of LELC cases, and EBVpositive LELCs share the following features with EBVassociated GCs: male predominance, predisposition to the proximal part of the stomach, and a high proportion of diffuse-type gastric carcinomas [10][11][12][13].…”

Epstein–Barr Virus Strain Variation

“…In general, it is clear that these LMP1 variants are widely distributed with somewhat different frequencies in different parts of the world, but in most studies, there was no evidence for a specific association with disease (Senyuta et al 2014;Gantuz et al 2013). Other reports of LMP1 variation associated with specific populations and disease contexts, for example gastric and oral carcinoma (Chen et al 2010BenAyed-Guerfali et al 2011;Higa et al 2002), have mostly lacked sufficient numbers or control samples to interpret in the context of the relationship between variation and disease, but some studies have suggested an association with disease (Corvalan et al 2006). …”

Are Epstein-Barr Virus-positive and -negative Gastric Carcinomas, With Lymphoid Stroma, Single Entity or Different Entities?

“…9,10 EBVaGC has been reported to be associated with rather distinct clinicopathologic features, including more predominant in men, proximal in location, diffuse subtype, and less frequent lymph node metastasis. 9,11 EBVaGC also predicts better survival of patients with GC. However, the histomorphologic features of EBVaGC are variable.…”