DETECTION OF EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS AND HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS IN NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA BY THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION TECHNIQUE

We used the PCR technique to detect the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and h uman papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in paraffin-embedded tissues from Greek patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The oligonucleotide prim ers used for the detection of EBV amplify a 375-bp long sequence from the EcoRI B fragment of the viral genome, whereas for HPV the primers amplify a 151-bp long sequence of the viral genome. The PCR products w ere analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis and visualised by UV illum ination after staining with ethidium bromide. Sixty-three specimens we re examined. EBV specific sequence was amplified in 20 (32%) and HPV i n 12 (19%) out of the 63 samples. There was no co-infection with EBV a nd HPV. Although there is a high correlation of EBV infection with poo rly differentiated NPC in patients from Southern China and South-East Asia, the restricted distribution suggests genetic or environmental co factors in the development of the neoplasm. Our results confirm this s uggestion since there was only a 32% correlation of EBV with NPC in Gr eece. HPV may also be involved in the carcinogenesis of EBV-negative s quamous cell nasopharyngeal carcinomas.