Absence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma confirmed by lack of EBV-coded nuclear RNA and latent membrane protein-1

• Published in: Histopathology Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 50 - 53
• Main Authors: OZAKI, S, HARADA, K, WATANABE, K, FURUBO, S, TSUI, W. M. S, NAKANUMA, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, U.K. and Cambridge, USA Blackwell Science Ltd 01.01.2000; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bile Duct Neoplasms - chemistry; Bile Duct Neoplasms - pathology; Bile Duct Neoplasms - virology; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic - pathology; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic - virology; Biological and medical sciences; Cholangiocarcinoma - chemistry; Cholangiocarcinoma - pathology; Cholangiocarcinoma - virology; Epstein-Barr virus; Epstein-Barr virus encoded nuclear RNA; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Herpesvirus 4, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 4, Human - immunology; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; In Situ Hybridization; intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; latent membrane protein-1; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; RNA, Viral - analysis; Tumors; Viral Matrix Proteins - analysis; Asia; China; Gammaherpesvirinae; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Pathogenesis; Herpesviridae; In situ; Hepatic disease; Epstein Barr virus; Malignant tumor; Hybridization; Biliary tract disease; Virus; Pathology; Malignant cholangioma; DNA; Digestive diseases; Intrahepatic
• ISSN: 0309-0167; 1365-2559
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2559.2000.00802.x

Aims Studies are disclosing that Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is involved in the aetiology of various neoplasms including undifferentiated carcinomas of the aerodigestive tract. The aetiology of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), a malignant neoplasm arising from intrahepatic biliary epithelia, has yet to be fully evaluated. To date, two cases of EBV‐related ICC have been reported, and they presented foci of lymphoepitheliomatous undifferentiated carcinoma components. Methods and results To determine whether EBV is commonly involved in the developments of ICC, we performed in‐situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry for EBV in 215 cases of ICC in Japan, using a probe against EBV‐coded nuclear RNA (EBER) and a specific antibody against latent membrane protein‐1 (LMP‐1), respectively. We did not detect EBV‐infected carcinoma cells in any of the ICC cases examined. No lymphoepitheliomatous undifferentiated carcinoma components were found either. Conclusion The results suggest that EBV infection is unlikely to be involved in the pathogenesis of ICC.