Korean J Cytopathol.  2001 Dec;12(2):73-80.

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in the inflammatory and neoplastic uterine cervical lesions

• Jeong HJ
• Lee ES
• Lin ZH
• Park SH
• Kim IS
• Kang JS

Abstract

The prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) in the uterine cervix was investigated to define the possible etiologic role in cervical carcinogenesis. The viral genotyping and LMP-1 30bp deletion were also studied. The materials included 169 uterine cervical swabs(152 within normal limits, 12 atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance, 3 low grade intraepithelial lesions, and 2 high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) and 104 uterine cervical tissues obtained from hysterectomy specimens(32 carcinoma in situ, 9 microinvasive squamous cell carcinomas, 37 invasive squamous cell carcinomas, 7 adenocarcinomas, 7 adenosquamous carcinomas, and 12 cervicitis). EBV detected by PCR for EBNA-1 was positive in 52(56.5%) of 92 invasive and noninvasive cervical carcinomas, and 80(48.8%) of 164 inflammatory or normal cervices. The viruses detected in carcinomas were all type A, and LMP-1 30bp deletion form was more frequent in premalignant and malignant cervical lesions than in nonneoplastic cervices. From the above results, it may be concluded that EBV is one of common viruses detected in uterine cervix of Korean women, and type A virus and LMP-1 30bp deletion form may have a role in cervical carcinogenesis.

Keyword

Epstein-Barr virus; Uterine cervix; Genotype; LMP-1

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Carcinogenesis
Carcinoma in Situ
Carcinoma, Adenosquamous
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Cervix Uteri
Female
Genotype
Herpesvirus 4, Human*
Humans
Hysterectomy
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prevalence