Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in Gastric Carcinoma Using In Situ Polymerase Chain Reaction and Analysis of Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Gastric Carcinoma

Abstract

We performed two independent evaluations of in situ polymerase chain reaction (in situ PCR) and Epstein-Barr virus encoded small RNA in situ hybridization (EBER ISH) for detection of Epstein-Barr virus infection in gastric carcinoma. In situ PCR is a novel technique with a high sensitivity which is a powerful aid for morphological diagnosis. Paraffin sections of gastric carcinomas from 96 cases were analyzed. Twenty-two of 96 cases (23%) were positive by in situ PCR, and 14 cases (15%) were positive by EBER ISH. Therefore there were 8 cases of EBV-DNA-positive gastric carcinoma without expression of EBER. To determine the significance of the expression of EBER in EBV-infection positive gastric carcinoma, we performed a clinicopathological study. There were two pathologic features in the gastric carcinoma with EBER. There was a significantly higher incidence of undifferentiated type and advanced cancer in EBER-positive gastric carcinomas. Therefore the expression of EBER contributes to the clinical pathologic feature of Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma.