Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
09:14
Isolation and Quantification of Epstein-Barr Virus from the P3HR1 Cell Line
Published on: September 28, 2022
Epstein-Barr virus microRNAs and lung cancer
J Koshiol1, M L Gulley, Y Zhao
1Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA. koshiolj@mail.nih.gov
British Journal of Cancer
|June 10, 2011
Summary
This study found little evidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in lung cancer tissue, despite initial analysis of viral microRNAs (miRNAs). Results do not support a role for EBV in lung cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- First analysis of viral microRNAs (miRNAs) in lung cancer, specifically Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
- Investigated potential association between EBV and lung tumorigenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively evaluate the presence and role of EBV, including its miRNAs, DNA, RNA, and protein, in lung cancer.
- To assess the diagnostic and prognostic potential of EBV-encoded miRNAs in differentiating lung cancer subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a two-channel oligo-array to evaluate viral miRNAs in 290 lung cancer cases.
- Validated miRNA expression using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in 48 cases.
- Tested for EBV DNA, RNA, and protein in tumor tissues.
Main Results:
- EBV miRNAs showed potential in differentiating lung adenocarcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma via microarray (P<0.01 for 9/16 miRNAs).
- Significant discrepancies observed between microarray and qPCR for specific EBV miRNAs (BART1, BART2, BHRF1-3).
- Limited EBV presence detected; only 1/7 cases with substantial miRNA evidence had detectable EBV DNA, and none had detectable RNA or protein.
Conclusions:
- Found minimal evidence of EBV in lung tumor tissues.
- Highlighted challenges in validating molecular markers due to methodological discrepancies (microarray vs. qPCR).
- Results do not support a significant role of EBV in the pathogenesis of lung cancer.
Related Concept Videos
01:22MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
01:22MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)...
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...