The association of Epstein-Barr virus DNA with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpesviruses, is a double stranded 170 kilobase DNA virus important in many human benign and malignant conditions. It has been implicated in the pathogenesis of proliferative diseases of lymphocytes and tumors of epithelial derivation. The etiology and pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is thought to involve a combination of genetic and environmental events which lead to epithelial cell transformation. The aim of this study was to determine whether an association exists between EBV and ESCC. DNA was extracted from 16 human ESCC cell lines and microdissected tumor specimens from 60 patients. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify a 400 base pair fragment corresponding to the BamH1W fragment repeat sequence of EBV. Southern blotting, utilizing an oligonucleotide probe specific for the BamH1W sequence, was used to confirm positive results and increase sensitivity of detection. 5/60 tumor samples and 1/16 ESCC cell lines were positive for the EBV sequence. Positive tumor samples were estimated to contain one copy of EBV per 20 cellular genomes. Given the role of EBV in other tumors of epithelial derivation, it is possible that EBV may contribute to the molecular pathogenesis of ESCC.