EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS IN CARCINOMA OF THE CERVIX

A group of young patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix and an age-matched control group were investigated for the presence of Epste in Barr virus (EBV) DNA in cervical biopsies using the polymerase chai n reaction. The carcinoma group was further analyzed to evaluate possi ble associations between the presence of EBV and other prognostic para meters, such as stage, lymph node involvement, and histological tumor type. EBV DNA was found in 20 of 40 (50%) of the carcinoma samples and in 20 of 39 (51%) of the cervical tissues in the control group (p > 0 .5). No statistically significant relationship could be noted between the presence or absence of EBV DNA and the effects of other prognostic parameters. In comparison with other studies using similar techniques , this study documented a higher percentage of positive EBV cases in b oth normal and carcinoma cervical samples. In both groups there was a similar number of positive cases. These results suggest that theories on the possible role played by EBV in the pathogenesis of cervical car cinoma may need to be reconsidered.