ABSENCE OF EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS IN TESTICULAR GERM-CELL TUMORS - A STUDY OF 21 CASES USING IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

Aim-To establish whether testicular germ cell tumours contain Epstein- Barr virus (EBV) and if so to provide further evidence for the hypothe sis that EBV plays a direct role in the pathogenesis of testicular ger m cell tumours. Method-Paraffin wax embedded tissue blocks from 21 ger m cell tumours including IZ teratomas and nine classic seminomas were examined by in situ hybridisation for the expression of the small EBV encoded nuclear RNA transcripts (EBER-1 and -2) using isotopic and non isotopic probes. Results-There was no EBER specific signal detectable in any of the testicular germ cell tumours examined by in situ:hybridi sation whilst a strong signal was observed in appropriate control sect ions. Conclusion-The absence of demonstrable EBER transcripts in testi cular germ cell tumours make a direct role for EBV in the pathogenesis of these tumours unlikely. Other explanations for the epidemiological and serological evidence linking EBV with germ cell tumours need to b e explored.