|
Roberto
Herrera-Goepfert, Department of Pathology, Instituto Nacional de
Cancerologia, Mexico City, Mexico
Suminori Akiba, Chihaya Koriyama, Shan Ding, Department of
Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate
School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan}
Edgardo Reyes, Department of
Pathology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Méicas y de la Nutrición
"Salvador ZubiráN" Mexico City, Mexico
Tetsuhiko Itoh, Department of Pathology, Kagoshima Institute
of Preventive Medicine, Kagoshima, Japan
Yoshie Minakami, Yoshito Eizuru, Division of Oncogenic and
Persistent Viruses, Center for Chronic Viral Diseases, Kagoshima
University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,
Kagoshima, Japan
Supported by a Grant No. 12218231 from Grants-in-Aid for
Scientific Research of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports,
and Culture of Japan
Correspondence to: Roberto Herrera-Goepfert, MD, Departamento
de Patología Instituto Nacional de Cancerología
, Av. San Fernando #22, Colonia Sección
XVI, Tlalpan, MVI, Tlalpan, Méicoico
DF 14080, Mexico. rhgoepfert@yahoo.com.mx
Telephone: +52-55-5628-0466 Fax: +52-55-5573-4662
Received: 2005-04-13 Accepted: 2005-05-24
Abstract
Aim: To investigate features
of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC)
among a Mexican population.
Methods:
Cases of primary gastric adenocarcinoma were retrieved from the
files of the Departments of Pathology at the Instituto Nacional de
Cancerología and the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición in Mexico
City. The anatomic site of the gastric neoplasia was identified, and
carcinomas were histologically classified as intestinal and diffuse
types and subclassified as proposed by the Japanese Research Society
for Gastric Cancer. EBV-encoded small non-polyadenylated RNA-1
(EBER-1) in situ hybridization was conducted to determine the
presence of EBV in neoplastic cells.
Results:
We studied 330 consecutive, non-selected, primary gastric
carcinomas. Among these, there were 173 male and 157 female patients
(male/female ratio 1.1/1). EBER-1 was detected in 24 (7.3%) cases
(male/female ratio: 1.2/1). The mean age for the entire group was
58.1 years (range: 20-88 years), whereas the mean age for patients
harboring EBER-1-positive gastric carcinomas was 65.3 years (range:
50-84 years). Age and histological type showed statistically
significant differences, when EBER-1-positive and -negative gastric
carcinomas were compared. EBER-1 was detected in hyperplastic- and
dysplastic-gastric mucosa surrounding two EBER-1-negative
carcinomas, respectively.
Conclusion:
Among Latin-American countries, Mexico has the lowest frequency of
EBVaGC. Indeed, the Mexican population >50 years of age was
selectively affected. Ethnic variations are responsible for the
epidemiologic behavior of EBVaGC among the worldwide population.
©2005 The WJG Press and
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Key words:
Epstein-Barr virus; Stomach; Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma;
Gastric carcinoma; EBV-A; EBER-1; LMP-1
Herrera-Goepfert R, Akiba S, Koriyama C, Ding S, Reyes E, Itoh T,
Minakami Y, Eizuru Y. Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric
carcinoma: Evidence of age-dependence among a Mexican population. World
J Gastroenterol 2005; 11(39): 6096-6103
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/11/6096.asp
INTRODUCTION
Gastric cancer (GC) is the
second leading cause among cancer deaths in the world[1] and
is one of the most frequent malignant neoplasms in Mexico[2].
Although the etiology of gastric carcinoma is now accepted as
multifactorial, infectious agents play a central role in the
mechanism of neoplastic transformation. The bacterium Helicobacter
pylori (H pylori) has been implicated in a high
percentage of gastric adenocarcinomas[3], in intestinal-
as well as diffuse-type adenocarcinomas, according to the Lauren
histoepide-miologic classification[4]. Another infectious
agent, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or gamma type 4 herpes virus, has
also been proved to be associated with gastric carcinoma in
approximately 10% of cases[5]. This association has been
reported in intestinal- and diffuse-type adenocarcinomas, as well as
in nearly 100% of cases labeled lymphoid stroma-rich,
lymphoepithelioma-like (LEL) carcinomas. The etiological role of EBV
in GC development has been suspected on the basis of the uniform
expression of Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA)-1 protein, and
EBV-encoded small non-polyadenylated RNA (EBER)-1 in all GC cells,
the episomal monoclonality of the EBV genome, the elevated serum
antibodies against EBV-related antigens among EBV-GC patients, and
the unique ‘lace pattern’morphology in some early-stage EBV-GCs.
EBV-associated
gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) accounts for 1.7-16% of gastric
carcinomas throughout the world, excluding LEL carcinomas[6].
The lowest frequency has been recorded in the UK, whereas the
highest was in the USA. The definitive explanation for this figure
remains unclear, but is probably related with genetic variations
among different populations, as well as cultural and environmental
influences among different geographic regions. Among Latin
Americans, Mexican individuals are less likely to develop GC in
association with EBV infection; in a previous study, we reported a
prevalence of 8.15%[7]. In these series, diffuse-type
EBV-GCs were seen exclusively, and EBER-1 was demonstrated in 100%
of LEL carcinomas. In the present study, we expanded the number of
cases under scrutiny and provided evidence that the risk for EBVaGC
was significantly increased among patients >50 years of age in
Mexico.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patient population
We retrieved cases of
gastric adenocarcinoma from the files of the Departments of
Pathology at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (1983-2000) and
the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición (1980-1995) in Mexico City.
The results of a partial analysis of 135 cases were published
previously elsewhere[7]. Eligible cases were included
whenever they possessed complete demographic and pathologic
information, as well as paraffin blocks with appropriate and
well-preserved neoplastic tissue for molecular analysis. The age and
gender of patients, and anatomic site, histological type, and depth
of invasion of gastric carcinomas were obtained from records at the
corresponding Department of Pathology.
Pathologic features
The anatomic site of
gastric neoplasia was identified as upper (proximal) third, middle
third, or lower (distal) third[8]. On the basis of
predominant histological pattern, carcinomas were classified as
intestinal- or diffuse-type according to the Lauren criteria[4]
and subclassified as proposed by the Japanese Research Society for
Gastric Cancer as follows[9]: intestinal types tub1
(well-differentiated adenocarcinoma with distinct glandular pattern
and columnar epithelium throughout, moderate or small amount of
stroma); tub2 (moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with small
or incomplete tubular structures with cubical or flat epithelium,
amount of stroma variable from case to case), and muc (mucinous
carcinoma); diffuse types, including por1 (poorly differentiated
adenocarcinoma with solid, sheet-like proliferation with an alveolar
pattern and indistinct tubular differentiation), por2 (poorly
differentiated adenocarcinoma with acinar and trabecular pattern,
usually showing diffuse infiltration with abundant fibrous stroma),
and sig (signet-ring cell carcinoma). A special category, LEL
carcinoma, similar to por1 adeno-carcinoma but with dense lymphoid
infiltrate exceeding total mass of carcinoma cells, was included.
The depth of invasion was specified as mucosa; submucosa; or
muscularis propria, subserosa, or serosa.
n situ hybridization
Molecular analysis was
conducted as previously described[10]. Briefly, we
retrieved one representative formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded
tissue sample from each carcinoma containing the neighboring
non-neoplastic gastric mucosa. Two slides with 5μm sections
were prepared from each paraffin block. A set of slides were
conventionally stained with hematoxylin and eosin, whereas the
remainder were enhanced for EBER-1 in situ hybridization. The
remaining paraffin-block sections were deparaffinized, rehydrated,
predigested with pronase, prehybridized, and hybridized overnight at
37 ℃ with a concentration of 0.5 ng of digoxigenin-labeled
probe. After sections were washed with 0.5×aline sodium citrate,
hybridization was detected by anti-digoxigenin, antibody-alkaline
phosphatase conjugate. Sections from a patient with known
EBV-positive gastric carcinoma were used for a positive control, and
sense probe to EBER-1 was used for a negative control for each
procedure.
EBV genotyping
Preparation of DNA Each
formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimen was cut into
10-mm-thick slices, and a DNA sample was prepared following the
method reported previously[11]. Each deparaffinized
sample was treated with proteinase K (200 mg/mL) at 37 ℃
overnight followed by phenol/chloroform extraction and ethanol
precipitation. Finally, the extracted DNA sample was dissolved in 50
mL of TE buffer.
Genotype-specific
primer sets and probes Four
different regions, the EBNA-3C, BamHI-F, BamHI-I, and XhoI
sites in LMP-1, were used to determine viral genotypes. Types A and
B can be determined by using the EBNA-2, -3A, -3B, or -3C gene[12-14].
In the present study, we chose EBNA-3C for genotyping because we
experienced a higher detection rate of the primer set than those of
the EBNA-2 region found in previous studies[15,16]. Types
A and B, identified by PCR amplification of EBNA-3C region,
corresponded to a 153- and a 246-bp band, respectively, and were
confirmed by Southern blot hybridization with type-specific internal
probes[14]. Wild-type F and f variant were identified by
the presence of a 186-bp fragment in amplification of the BamHI
F region; after BamHI cleavage, a 186-bp fragment could be
identified in the case of wild-type F, and a 127-bp fragment could
be identified in the case of the f variant. Wild-type F and f
variants were confirmed by Southern blot hybridization with the
internal probe as described previously[15].
For the
BamHI-I region, a 205-bp fragment was amplified by using
primer sets as described previously[17], and types C and
D were distinguished after cleavage by BamHI-restriction
enzyme. Type C had a 205-bp fragment, and type D had cleaved
fragments with 130 and 75 bp. Types C and D were also confirmed by
Southern blot hybridization with a cloned BamHI-I DNA
fragment probe.
To
detect the XhoI polymorphism in exon 1 of the LMP-1 gene, we
amplified a 497-bp DNA fragment with a primer set as previously
described[18]. When two fragments, 340- and 157-bp long,
were observed after XhoI digestion of the PCR product, the
case was considered to contain the XhoI cleavage site. The
497-bp fragment of the PCR product of the B95-8 cell line was used
as a probe to confirm the XhoI cleavage site of LMP-1 by
Southern blot hybridization[19].
PCR and Southern blot
hybridization The PCR
template contained the appropriate primer pair (1 mmol/L each),
deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (200 mmol/L each), and Taq
polymerase (Takara Shuzo, Kyoto, Japan) in a total of 100 mL of PCR
buffer. PCR products or PCR products digested with BamHI and XhoI
were confirmed by electrophoresis in 2% agarose gel and by staining
with 0.5 mg/mL of ethidium bromide. Then, electrophoretic pattern
was photographed under ultraviolet light. Electrophoretic DNA was
transferred onto a Hybond N+ nylon membrane (Amersham Pharmacia
Biotech, UK) by capillary blotting using 0.4 N NaOH solution.
Membranes were prehybridized with hybridization buffer for 0.5-1 h
at 42 ℃. After the probe was added, hybridization was carried
out overnight at 42 ℃. Probes of types A and B, and BamHI-F
were labeled with Dig oligonucleotide 3?end labeling kit and
detected using a Dig luminescent detection kit (Boehringer Mannheim,
Germany). For detecting the BamHI-I fragment and XhoI
polymorphism in LMP-1, hybridization was carried out using the ECL
direct labeling and detection kit (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, UK)
according to the manufacturer抯 instructions.
Statistical analysis
Odds ratios (ORs) and
95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were obtained from logistic
regression analysis, making comparisons between EBER-1-positive and
EBER-1-negative gastric carcinomas with regard to age, gender,
decade, anatomic site, histologic type, and depth of invasion.
RESULTS
Patient characteristics
We studied 330
consecutive, non-selected cases of gastrectomies due to primary
gastric carcinoma. Among the 330 cases, there were 173 male and 157
female patients. The mean age was 58.1 years (range: 20-88 years)
for all the patients, 59.9 years (range: 22-88 years) for male
patients, and 56.1 years (range 20-88 years) for female patients.
EBER-1 was detected in 24 (7.3%) of the 330 cases, 13 in men (7.5%)
and 11 in women (7.0%). The mean age for patients harboring
EBER-1-positive gastric carcinomas was 65.3 years: male patients
66.2 years (range: 51-74 years) and female patients 64.4 years
(range: 50-84 years). The male/female ratio was 1.1/1 for the entire
group and 1.2/1 for those with EBER-1-positive carcinomas.
Pathologic findings
With regard to the
anatomic site of the primary neoplasia, 44 (13.3%) carcinomas were
localized in the upper-third, 128 (38.8%) were in the middle
portion, and 156 (47.3%) were in the lower-third of the stomach. In
two cases (one male and one female), the anatomic location could not
be determined; the entire stomach showed neoplastic infiltration in
the male patient, and information on the original location of
primary neoplasia was not available in the female patient. Both
cases were EBER-1-negative. The distribution of carcinomas according
to anatomic site and histological type, and the anatomic site and
histological type of EBER-1-positive carcinomas are shown in Tables
1 and 2, respectively. Fourteen cases corresponded to early
carcinomas, and only 4 were confined to mucosa; 10 cases invaded the
submucosal layer. The remaining 316 cases were advanced carcinomas
affecting muscular, subserosal, and serosal layers, as well as
adjacent organs. EBER-1 was positive in all LEL carcinomas, in 4 out
of 141 intestinal-type adenocarcinomas and in 11 out of 180
diffuse-type adenocarcinomas. The EBER-1 in situ hybridization
signal was uniformly distributed in the nuclei of all 24 positive
cases (Figures 1-6). A characteristic lace pattern was evident in
the intramucosal component of three EBER-1-positive carcinomas, two
por1 plus tub2 and one tub2 plus por1 adenocarcinomas. Twenty-two of
twenty-four EBER-1-positive cases extended beyond the submucosa,
whereas two carcinomas, one from a female and one from a male
patient, did not exceed the submucosal layer.
There
were two EBER-1-negative carcinomas accompanied by EBER-1-positive
gastric lesions. The first case, a 52-year-old male patient (Figures
7 and 8), had EBER-1 expression in regenerative epithelium of
gastric mucosa adjacent to an EBER-1-negative primary adenocarcinoma
(por1). The second case was a 46-year-old female patient whose
EBER-1-negative adenocarcinoma (por1) was in the immediate vicinity
of dysplastic gastric glands with EBER-1 expression (Figures 9 and
10).
Among
the demographic and pathologic variables analyzed, age and
histologic type had statistically significant differences, when
EBER-1-positive and EBER-1 negative gastric carcinomas were compared
(Table 3). In addition, comparison among patients more or less than
60 years of age showed significant differences (P = 0.008).
Table 1 Distribution
of EBER-1-positive gastric carcinomas by anatomic site1 and gender
| |
Total |
Males |
Females |
| |
(EBER-1+/total)
% |
(EBER-1+/total)
% |
(EBER-1+/total)
% |
| Total |
24/330 |
7.3 |
13/173 |
7.5 |
11/157 |
7.0 |
| Upper |
3/44 |
6.8 |
3/31 |
9.7 |
0/13 |
0 |
| Middle |
13/128 |
10.2 |
7/67 |
10.4 |
6/61 |
9.8 |
| Lower |
8/156 |
5.1 |
3/74 |
4.1 |
5/82 |
6.1 |
1In two cases,
anatomic location could not be determined. All (one male and one
female) were EBER-1-negative.
Table 2 Distribution
of EBER-1-positive gastric carcinomas by histologic type and gender
| |
Total |
Males |
Females |
| |
(EBER-1+/total)
% |
(EBER-1+/total)
% |
(EBER-1+/total)
% |
| I-type |
4/141 |
2.8 |
3.5 |
3/87 |
1/54 |
1.9 |
| Tub1 |
0/42 |
0 |
0/28 |
0 |
0/14 |
0 |
| Tub2 |
4/80 |
5.0 |
3/47 |
6.4 |
1/33 |
3.0 |
| Muc |
0/19 |
0 |
0/12 |
0 |
0/7 |
0 |
| D-type |
20/189 |
10.6 |
10/86 |
11.6 |
10/103 |
9.7 |
| Por1 |
8/64 |
12.5 |
3/31 |
9.7 |
5/33 |
15.2 |
| Por2 |
2/45 |
4.4 |
2/19 |
10.5 |
0/26 |
0 |
| Sig |
1/71 |
1.4 |
1/32 |
3.1 |
0/39 |
0 |
| LEL |
9/9 |
100 |
4/4 |
100 |
5/5 |
100 |
I-type:
Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma; D-type: Diffuse-type
adenocarcinoma.
Table 3 Comparison
of demographic and pathologic variables between EBER-1-positive and
EBER-1-negative gastric carcinomas1
| |
EBER-1+/total |
OR |
95%CI |
P |
| Gender |
|
|
|
0.859 |
| Female |
11/157 |
1 |
Reference |
|
| Male |
13/173 |
0.9 |
0.4-2.2 |
|
| Age
(yr) |
|
|
|
0.013 |
| 20-49 |
0/87 |
<0.1 |
|
|
| 50-69 |
14/170 |
0.6 |
0.2-1.3 |
|
| 70-88 |
10/73 |
1 |
Reference |
|
| Decade |
|
|
|
0.787 |
| 1980-1989 |
11/130 |
1 |
Reference |
|
| 1990-2000 |
13/200 |
0.9 |
0.4-2.1 |
|
| Tumor
site |
|
|
|
0.229 |
| Cardia |
3/35 |
1.9 |
0.5-7.5 |
|
| Middle |
13/137 |
2.2 |
0.9-5.5 |
|
| Antrum |
8/156 |
1 |
Reference |
|
| Lauren
classification |
|
|
|
0.005 |
| Intestinal |
4/141 |
1 |
Reference |
|
| Diffuse |
20/189 |
4.9 |
1.6-14.8 |
|
| Depth |
|
|
|
0.273 |
| Early |
2/14 |
2.4 |
0.5-11.8 |
|
| Advanced |
22/316 |
1 |
Reference |
|
1Odds ratios and 95%
confidence intervals were obtained from logistic analysis. Age was
adjusted in the analysis of variables other than age.
Figure 1 Moderately
differentiated, intestinal-type (tub2) adenocarcinoma. Irregular
neoplastic tubular structures are seen throughout the field
(hematoxylin and eosin stain).
Figure 2 Same
case as in Figure 1. EBER-1 nuclear positivity is limited to
neoplastic cells lining the tubular structures (in situ
hybridization).
Figure 3
Diffuse-type (por1) adenocarcinoma. Sheets of neoplastic cells are
distributed in an indistinct pattern (hematoxylin and eosin stain).
Figure 4
Same case as in Figure 3. A uniform nuclear signal of EBER-1 is seen
in neoplastic cells (in situ hybridization)
Figure 5
Poorly differentiated, LEL carcinoma. Clusters of neoplastic cells
are separated by lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate
Figure 6
Same case as in Figure 5. An EBER-1-positive signal is detected in
the nuclei of neoplastic cells (in situ hybridization
Figure 7
Lining gastric epithelium shows regenerative changes characterized
by nuclear growth without atypia. There are few neoplastic cells in
the underlying lamina propria (hematoxylin and eosin stain)
Figure 8 Same
case as in Figure 7. The EBER-1-positive nuclear signal is
restricted to regenerative epithelium. Note the EBER-1 nuclear
negativity of neoplastic cells infiltrating the lamina propria (in
situ hybridization
Figure 9
Lining gastric epithelium shows high-grade dysplasia, characterized
by cell stratification and crowding, increased nuclear/cytoplasm
ratio, nuclear atypia, and prominent eosinophilic nucleoli
(hematoxylin and eosin stain)
Figure 10 Same case as in
Figure 9. Dysplastic epithelium is intensely positive for the EBER-1
nuclear signal (in situ hybridization
EBV genotype
We examined the genotype
of seven EBV strains detected from EBER-1-positive cases; genotype
could be determined in five of them. All were type A, wild-type F,
and type D. In analysis of the XhoI cleavage site in LMP-1,
we found that the cleavage site was lost in four cases and was
maintained in one case.
DISCUSSION
In this study, we found a
7.3% prevalence of EBVaGC in Mexico. In Latin America, this
frequency is in contrast with that reported by Koriyama et al.,
(11.2%)[20] and Lopes et al., (11.3%)[21]
in Brazil, Carrascal et al., in Colombia (13%)[22],
and Corvalan et al., in Chile (16.8%)[23].
Excluding LEL carcinomas, the prevalence of EBVaGC in Mexico was
4.7%, whereas in Chile it was 15.8%. In a Brazilian study by
Koriyama et al.[20], and a Colombian study by
Carrascal et al.[22], there were no LEL
carcinomas. Nonetheless, in the study by Lopes et al.[21],
a high prevalence of LEL carcinomas (66.7%) among EBVaGC patients
was found in a Brazilian population; thus, the prevalence of EBVaGC
excluding LEL carcinomas is the lowest (3.8%). Conversely, the
prevalence of LEL carcinoma was 7.6% in Brazil, 2.7% in Mexico, and
1.1% in Chile. The male/female ratio (1.2/1) was, as previously
noted[7], the lowest among the series reported worldwide.
Moreover, after excluding LEL carcinomas, Mexico remains among
countries with the low prevalence of EBVaGC worldwide[6].
The
frequency of EBVaGC among GC patients of Mexican ancestry in the USA
ranged from 10.2%[24] to 12%[25], which is
higher than the frequency (7.3%) reported by us. This peculiar
migratory phenomenon has also been seen in other countries such as
Japan and China. In Japan, the mean frequency of EBVaGC is 6.2%, but
among patients of Japanese descent, those who are living in Hawaii,
the frequency is 10.2%. In Taiwan, the frequency of EBVaGC among
patients of Chinese descent is 11.2%, in comparison to 6.8% in China[26].
This figure probably indicates that besides ethnic and genetic
backgrounds, environmental factors are involved in the development
of EBVaGC.
A high
frequency of EBVaGC at older ages is evident in our Mexican study.
Not a single case of EBVaGC was observed among patients aged <50
years. This feature was previously highlighted by Gulley et al.[25],
who examined American patients of Mexican descent in the USA and
found EBVaGC cases only among those aged 56 years or older. Age
dependence of EBVaGC frequency was statistically significant in
their study (P = 0.04). The absence of EBVaGC in a set of
patients of Mexican ancestry aged <56 years was also reported by
Vo et al.[24], although the age difference they
reported was not statistically significant. A similar age dependence
was reported in China[26], where EBVaGC frequency was
higher among those aged 60 years or older than those aged <60
years (P = 0.03); interestingly, the frequency of EBVaGC
(7.8%) in their study is quite similar to that reported by us
(7.3%).
In
Brazil, Lopes et al.[21], also did not find any
patient less than 52 years of age, although other Latin-American
studies such as those of Koriyama et al.[20], and
Corvalan et al.[23], did not show any
age dependence, reporting EBVaGC cases in patients <50 years.
Contrary to the age dependence observed in the present study, a
large-scale Japanese study reported a high prevalence of EBVaGC in
young men[27]. Furthermore, the same authors showed a
significant decreasing trend in EBV prevalence with increasing age
for males (P = 0.04). Carrascal et al.[22],
also reported an age-dependent decrease of EBVaGC frequency among
Colombian individuals with GC (P for trend = 0.022).
The
fact that EBV-associated cancer cannot be detected in other
digestive tract organs including the colon and esophagus indicates
the importance of epithelial change(s) specific to the stomach[28].
EBV-latent infection products were reported to be expressed in
predisposing conditions for gastric carcinoma[29,30]. Our
observation showing that EBVaGC could not be found among patients
<50 years of age supports the involvement of gastric-mucosal
changes occurring late in human life in Mexico, as well as in Brazil
and China, and relatively early in Japan and Colombia.
EBVaGC
has been related to atrophic gastritis, and EBV DNA has been
isolated from epithelial cells in gastric mucosa carrying chronic
atrophic gastritis[29-31]. Indeed, intestinal metaplasia
may enhance EBV entrance into epithelial cells via adherence of the
virus to the secretory component of polymeric immunoglobulin A[32].
Our finding of two cases of EBV non-associated gastric carcinoma,
one positive for EBER-1 in adjacent hyperplastic mucosa -a finding
not previously described -and the other with an EBER-1-positive
signal in dysplastic mucosa -a finding originally reported by
Shibata and Weiss[33] -also suggests that the most
plausible mechanisms for EBV entry into gastric epithelial cells are
those related to previous mucosal damage and cooperation with some
unknown promoter factors. In the present study, we did not observe
any EBER-1 expression in normal gastric mucosa, even surrounding
LEL-EBVaGC or infiltrating lymphocytes. Furthermore, we analyzed
endoscopic gastric biopsies from 116 Mexican individuals >40
years of age carrying gastritis with mild atypia, and we did not
find any EBER-1-positive case (unpublished data).
In
addition to the age dependence of EBVaGC, the present study shows
other characteristics of EBVaGC such as distal presentation among
female patients and no male preponderance, altogether supporting
that ethnicity and genetic backgrounds may address this particular
outcome of EBV infection in the Mexican population. Among genetic
backgrounds, an immunogenetic constitution may influence the outcome
of EBV infection. Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) of the major
histocompatibility complex have been implicated in susceptibility to
develop EBV-related malignancies[34]. Very recently, we
reported an association between the HLA-DQB1*0501 allele and
GC, predominantly in those labeled as diffuse-type carcinomas[35];
unfortunately, EBV status could not be assessed.
In
Mexico, EBV antibody prevalence at 4-6 years of age is about 75%[36].
All EBV strains detected in EBVaGC and subjected to EBV genotyping
were type A. Previous molecular studies on nasal
T-lymphocyte/natural killer-cell lymphomas (nT/NKL) in Mexico[37]
documented that EBV type A (EBV-1) is more frequent than EBV type B
(EBV-2), as in nT/NKL and sino-nasal-B-cell lymphomas, and as in
reactive tonsils from healthy individuals, thus suggesting that
viral infection with EBV-1 strain is highly predominant among the
Mexican population. In addition, the same authors[37] found
a similar incidence of EBV LMP-1 deletions in Mexican individuals
harboring nT/NKL as compared with normal subjects. Mori et al.[38],
found no significant differences in DNA sequences of the LMP-1
region of EBV strains isolated from EBVaGC patients and throat
washing samples of healthy individuals. So far no studies have
revealed differences in the genotype of EBV detected in EBVaGC vs
that found in healthy individuals.
In
conclusion, EBVaGC occurs less in Mexico than among other
Latin-American populations, but it is as frequent in male as it is
in female patients >50 years. In Mexican women, EBVaGC affects
the middle and distal portions of the stomach but not the proximal
portion. Finally, the participation of sequential steps in the
mechanism of neoplastic transfo-rmation in EBVaGC, in a similar
manner to the cascade of events described by Correa[39]
in gastric carcinogenesis, cannot be ruled out.
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