The association of Epstein-Barr virus with gastric carcinoma and clinical application

2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 12671201
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Digestive surgery
• Research Institution: CHIBA UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: ODA Kenji Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, Assitant, 医学部附属病院, 助手 (90282483)
• Project Period (FY): 2000 – 2001
• Keywords: Gastric carcinoma / Epsten-Barr virus / Anti-EBV anbtibody / Clinical application

Research Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with gastric carcinoma by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques, and also by the measurement of anti-EBV antibody titers. 1. Association of EBV with lymphoepithlioma-type gastric carcinoma : 12 of 13 cases were EBV-positive (92.3%). Southern blot analysis indicated the episomal form and monoclonality of EBV. 2. Association of EBV with ordinary type gastric carcinomas : One hundred and two cases of gastric carcinomas were studied. In informative 97 cases, EBV was detected in 21 cases (21.6%) by PCR method. ISH studies showed that the EBV RNA was expressed in 5 of 97 cases (5.2%) and localized to the nuclei of carcinoma cells. 3.Association of EBV with remnant gastric carcinomas : Three of 10 cases of remnant gastric carcinomas (30.0%) were EBV-positive. The decrease of acid secretion of remnant stomach may relate to EBV infection. 4.Clarification of the elevation of anti-EBV tilers in the EBV-related gastric cancer patients : Anti-EBV capsid antigen (VCA)-IgG, early antigen (EA)-IgG and EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) liters were elevated in the EBV-related gastric cancer patients. Elevation of the anti-EA-IgG liter was most specific and we may use it as tumor marker for the EBV-relaled gastric cancer.