J. Dcosta et al., EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS IN TOBACCO-INDUCED ORAL CANCERS AND ORAL LESIONS IN PATIENTS FROM INDIA, Journal of oral pathology & medicine, 27(2), 1998, pp. 78-82
We examined 103 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), 100 oral lesions
consisting primarily of leukoplakia (82 cases), and 76 clinically nor
mal mucosa specimens from the contralateral site in the oral cavity of
individuals with oral lesions, for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus
(EBV). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a 239 bp f
ragment of the BamHIL region of the EBV genome, followed by Southern b
lot hybridization with EBV oligonucleotide probe to increase further t
he specificity and sensitivity of the assay system. Since EBV seroposi
tivity is frequent in populations, we also examined the peripheral blo
od cells (PBC) from 141 patients (50 oral cancer patients, 91 patients
with oral lesions) for the presence of EBV. we detected EBV in 25 of
103 (25%) OSCC, 13 of 100 (13%) oral lesions, 3 of 76 (4%) clinically
normal mucosa samples and 10 of 141 (7%) PBC. Our results indicate tha
t EBV may contribute as one of the multiple factors in oral cancers, i
n a certain proportion of Indian patients.