EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS INFECTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH P53 ACCUMULATION IN NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

Eight-three cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were evaluated for the p resence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in tumor cells by in sit u hybridization to EBER1 transcripts, and for p53 expression by immuno stains using the D07 antibody which detects native and mutant forms of the p53 protein. A highly significant association was found between E BV infection and p53 overexpression (P = .0004), with 77% of cases coe xpressing both markers, This newly discovered association suggests tha t EBV is not an innocent bystander with respect to p53 accumulation. O ne possible mediator of the interaction between EBV and p53, viral BZL F1, was not colocalized. with p53 in these tumors, suggesting that BZL F1 is not the factor responsible for p53 accumulation. From an epidemi ological standpoint, this series of cancers represents an internationa l cohort in which cases from an endemic part of the world (Hong Kong) were examined alongside cases from the United Slates, where the diseas e is 50-fold less prevalent. The cancers from Hong Kong tended to be l ess differentiated and more frequently associated with EBV, suggesting that biological differences might underlie epidemiological variations in turner prevalence. Finally, we examined 18 potential;premalignant lesions of the surface epithelium of the nasopharynx. Although our num bers are small, our data suggest that p53 accumulation might precede E BV infection in the transition from metaplasia to carcinoma in situ. F urther studies are needed to dissect the stepwise progression of nasop haryngeal carcinogenesis. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.