NO EPSTEIN-BARR AND CYTOMEGALOVIRUS DNA FOUND IN SALIVARY-GLAND TUMORS

A series of 219 (106 malignant and 113 benign) salivary gland tumours was investigated by in situ hybridisation (ISH) to detect Epstein-Barr -virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA. Normal salivary gland did not show hybridisation signals for these viruses. Tumours presenting h ybridisation signals in ductal and myoepithelial cells and 17 Warthin' s tumours were further studied by PCR, but none of these tumours conta ined EBV or CMV DNA. Our series did not contain lymphoepithelial carci nomas, which are EBV-associated tumours. The results suggest that fact ors other than EBV or CMV are involved in carcinogenesis of primary sa livary gland tumours.