Open AccessDetection of Epstein‐Barr Virus DNA in a Japanese Case of Lymphoepithelioma‐like Thymic Carcinoma
Author(s) -
Matsuno Yoshihiro,
Mukai Kiyoshi,
Uhara Hisashi,
Akao Ichiro,
Furuya Shuichiroh,
Sato Yuichi,
Hirohashi Setsuo,
Shimosato Yukio
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
japanese journal of cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 0910-5050
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1992.tb00075.x
Subject(s) - lymphoepithelioma like carcinoma , thymic carcinoma , lymphoepithelioma , virus , biology , epstein–barr virus , carcinoma , pathology , polymerase chain reaction , herpesviridae , virology , viral disease , thymoma , medicine , immunology , gene , genetics
Epstein‐Barr virus DNA was detected in a case of lymphoepithelioma‐like thymic carcinoma. A homogeneous terminal structure of the viral DNA was demonstrated in this case, indicating the presence of the viral genome in clonally expanded tumor cells. Since all of 26 other thymic epithelial tumors (eight non‐invasive, 13 invasive thymomas and four non‐lymphoepithelioma‐like thymic carcinomas) in Japanese were negative by polymerase chain reaction, it is suggested that lymphoepithelioma‐like thymic carcinoma may represent a unique pathological entity distinct from Epstein‐Barr virus‐negative thymic epithelial tumors, which are in the majority in Japan.