Association of Epstein-Barr virus with lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma ofthe lung in southern China

To study the relationship between pulmonary LELC and Epstein-Barr virus (EB V) infection, we used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry techni ques to detect the EBV-encoded small nonpolyadenylated RNA (EBER), latent m embrane protein 1 (LMP1), and viral capsid antigen (VCA) in 32 cases of LEL C and 19 cases of non-LELC lung carcinoma. Of the 32 cases, 30 (94%) showed EBER positivity. Of the 30 EBER-positive pulmonary LELC cases, 16 and 7 ex pressed LMP1 and VCA, respectively. In contrast with LELC, none of the 19 c ases of a non-LELC lung carcinoma showed EBER-, LMP1-, or VCA infection and pulmonary LELC. EBV infection may have an essential role in the tumorigene sis of pulmonary LELC. EBV latent infection is the main status in pulmonary LELC except for individual EBV entering into a lytic cycle.