Epstein–Barr virus and its association with Fascin expression in colorectal cancers in the Syrian population: A tissue microarray study

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy in both men and women worldwide. Colorectal carcinogenesis is a complex, multistep process involving environmental and lifestyle features as well as sequential genetic changes in addition to bacterial and viral infections. Viral infection has a proven role in the incidence of approximately 20% of human cancers including gastric malignancies. Accordingly, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been recently shown to be present in human gastric cancers, which could play an important role in the initiation and progression of these cancers. Therefore, this work explores the prevalence of EBV in 102 CRC tissues from the Syrian population using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and tissue microarray (TMA) analysis. We found that EBV is present in 37 (36.27%) of CRC samples. Additionally, the expression of LMP1 onco-protein of EBV was found to be correlated with Fascin expression/overexpression in the majority of CRC tissue samples, which are intermediate/high grade invasive carcinomas. Our data indicate that EBV is present in CRC and its presence is associated with more aggressive cancer phenotype. Consequently, future investigations are needed to expose the role of EBV in CRC initiation and progression.

High-Risk Human Papillomaviruses and Epstein–Barr Virus in Colorectal Cancer and Their Association with Clinicopathological Status

“…The highest reported EBV-positivity in CRC was up to 46%, with the majority of the studies reporting EBV positivity of 20–40% [ 19 , 28 , 41 , 42 ]. Our study indicated the individual presence of EBNA1 and LMP1 genes of EBV in 14% and 25% of the samples, respectively.…”

“…The combined oncogenic effects of viral infections have been recognized as potential oncogenic drivers in various cancers [ 6 ]. Oncoviruses can lead to the onset and progression of cancer via commonly shared pathways including WNT/β-catenin, JAK/STAT/SRC, PI3k/Akt/mTOR, and/or RAS/MEK/ERK signaling pathways [ 6 , 8 , 14 , 41 ]. A study conducted by Guidry and Scott [ 63 ] showed that co-infection by HPV and EBV enhances EBV persistence either via latency or increased viral replication or by aggregating HPV oncogene expression.…”

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status in colorectal cancer: a mini review

“…Since EBV assessment by IHC is not routinely employed in CRC and other colorectal malignancies, the thresholds for positivity varied across the studies (1-10%) while several studies did not report the threshold for positivity. 20,25,27,30 We point out here the importance of the method of EBV detection as it may play a key role in elucidating not only the presence but also the potential contribution of EBV to colorectal carcinogenesis. Most studies used PCR and/or IHC for EBV detection.…”

“…Most positive studies revealed EBV positivity rate to bẽ 20-40% of the cases. 20,23,26,29,30,32,34 A study of Salyakina et al 26 reported a common co-infection of EBV with other viruses in 20% of the CRC samples (Cytomegalovirus and Human Herpesvirus 6B/HHV-6B/). An interesting case study by Chang et al 28 on collision colorectal tumors (adenocarcinoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma) revealed serum EBV positivity.…”

How latent viruses cause breast cancer: An explanation based on the microcompetition model

“…In a study of 90 CRC specimens, EBV proteins were detected in nearly a third of the tissues, compared to a detection rate of only 4% in adjacent non-cancerous control specimens [26]. Another study used PCR and tissue microarray (TMA) analysis to show that EBV was present in 36% of 102 CRC tissue samples, and EBV was also associated with a more aggressive type of CRC [27]. Recent research suggests that a coinfection of EBV and HPV may play an important role in the progression of cervical cancer [28].…”