Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2025
Isolation and Quantification of Epstein-Barr Virus from the P3HR1 Cell Line
Published on: September 28, 2022
Epstein-Barr Virus Detection and LMP-1 Expression in Thai Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Dulyapong Rungraungrayabkul1, Puangwan Lapthanasupkul2, Nakarin Kitkumthorn3
1Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Rajthewee, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
Background:
To date, high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is primarily linked to oropharyngeal carcinoma, but only a small subset of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is truly driven by high-risk HPV. In addition, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is another potential oncogenic virus for OSCC development. This study aims to investigate the role of EBV infection in Thai patients with OSCC.
Methods:
Forty-seven formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of OSCC were obtained. EBV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction analysis using primers for LMP-1 region of EBV. EBV-positive OSCC cases were subjected to LMP-1 immunohistochemical analysis and EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization to determine EBV cellular localization in OSCC. LMP-1 immunohistochemical analysis was also performed in all EBV-negative OSCC cases.
Results:
Of the 47 OSCC specimens, ten (21%) exhibited EBV DNA by PCR analysis. Seven of ten (70%) EBV-positive specimens showed high-grade LMP-1 expression by immunohistochemistry. However, no EBER expression was detected in all EBV-positive OSCC specimens. In EBV-negative specimens, LMP-1 was also negative except in 3 specimens which showed low grade expression of LMP-1.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of EBV infection in OSCC in this group of Thai patients was 21%. Most of EBV-positive OSCC cases showed LMP-1 expression but a lack of EBER expression. From our findings, we presume that EBV may take some roles in OSCC development in this group of participants.
