LYMPHOEPITHELIOMA-LIKE CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG - ANALYSIS OF 2 CASES FOR EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS INFECTION

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, which is an uncommon histological ty pe of epithelial tumor, has been described as being closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in organs other than the lung . Recently, we experienced two surgically resected cases of pulmonary tumors mimicking lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma. Both cases containe d EBV DNA genomes as shown by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using EB V DNA-specific primers, one positive for EBV DNA in virtually all canc er cells, and the other showing positive hybridization in a small numb er of cancer cells by in situ hybridization (ISH) using digoxigenin-la beled olignucletide probes for each of EBV DNA for EBV DNA. EBV-encode d RNA-1 (EBER-1) was typically detected in one case, These results are highly suggestive of EBV-associated tumors in one of the current case s, although in the other case, no such close association was determine d. It seems that lymphoepithelioma-like pulmonary carcinoma, which see ms extremely unusual, may be closely associated with EBV infection in tumorigenesis. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company