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Association of Epstein-Barr virus with leiomyosarcomas in young people with AIDS

K L McClain1, C T Leach, H B Jenson

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.

The New England Journal of Medicine
|January 5, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects smooth muscle cells in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), contributing to their high rates of smooth muscle tumors. EBV was not found in tumors from children without HIV.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) exhibit a higher incidence of smooth-muscle tumors, including leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas.
  • The association between these smooth-muscle tumors and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in children with AIDS was investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that smooth-muscle tumors in children with AIDS are linked to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Main Methods:

  • Tissue samples from children with AIDS and smooth-muscle tumors were analyzed for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and EBV using in situ hybridization and quantitative PCR.
  • EBV clonality was assessed, and tumor cells were stained for the EBV receptor.
  • Comparison was made with tumor samples from HIV-negative children.

Main Results:

  • EBV genomes were detected in all smooth-muscle tumor cells from children with AIDS, with high viral loads.
  • Distinct EBV clones were identified in tumors from the same patient, indicating monoclonal EBV-related tumors.
  • The EBV receptor was highly expressed in most tumors from children with AIDS, but EBV was absent in tumors from HIV-negative children.

Conclusions:

  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can infect smooth-muscle cells in children with AIDS, potentially driving the development of leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas.
  • EBV does not appear to play a role in smooth-muscle tumors among HIV-negative children.
Abstract

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