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High incidence of Epstein-Barr virus genomes in Hodgkin's disease
H Herbst1, G Niedobitek, M Kneba
1Institute of Pathology, Klinikum Steglitz, Free University of Berlin, West Germany.
Insights
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA was detected in 58% of Hodgkin's disease cases, suggesting its involvement in the cancer's development. EBV DNA was also found in some non-Hodgkin lymphomas and control lymph nodes.
Area of Science:
- * Oncology
- * Virology
- * Pathology
Background:
- * Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common human herpesvirus with known associations to various malignancies.
- * The role of EBV in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease (HD) requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL).
- * To determine the cellular localization of EBV DNA within Hodgkin's disease tissues.
Main Methods:
- * Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect EBV DNA in 198 cases of Hodgkin's disease, 151 NHL cases, and 34 nonmalignant lymph node biopsies.
- * In situ hybridization was performed on Hodgkin's disease biopsies to identify the location of EBV DNA.
Main Results:
- * EBV DNA was detected in 58% of Hodgkin's disease specimens.
- * EBV DNA was present in 26% of high-grade NHL, 14% of low-grade NHL, and 7% of chronic lymphocytic leukemia biopsies.
- * Ten percent of control lymph nodes tested positive for EBV DNA. In Hodgkin's disease, EBV DNA was exclusively found within tumor cells.
Conclusions:
- * A significant proportion of Hodgkin's disease cases harbor Epstein-Barr virus DNA.
- * The exclusive localization of EBV DNA in tumor cells of Hodgkin's disease suggests a direct role in its pathogenesis.
- * These findings highlight the importance of EBV in understanding Hodgkin's disease development.
Abstract:
Tissue specimens from 198 cases of Hodgkin's disease and 151 non-Hodgkin lymphomas, as well as 34 nonmalignant lymph node biopsies were examined for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Epstein-Barr virus-specific DNA sequences were detected in DNA extracts from frozen and/or paraffin-embedded tissues of 58% of Hodgkin's disease cases. High and low grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas as well as chronic lymphocytic leukemia biopsies contained EBV DNA in 26%, 14%, and 7% of the cases, respectively. Ten percent of the control lymph nodes with normal histology were EBV positive. In Hodgkin's disease biopsies, subsequent in situ hybridization revealed an exclusive localization of the viral DNA in the tumor cells. These findings suggest an involvement of EBV in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease in a substantial proportion of cases.