The relationship between Epstein-Barr-virus infection and expression of p53, Bcl-2 and C-myc gene in lung cancer

Abstract

To investigate the infection rate of EBV and the expression of p53, Bcl-2 and C-myc gene in lung cancer, to explore the relation between EBV and oncogenesis of lung cancer , and the relation between EBV and expression of p53, Bcl-2 and C-myc. Forty-eight cases of excised specimen of lung cancer, 2 of lungmetastatic leiomyosar coma, 1 of tuberculoma, 18 of paraneoplastic bronchial mucosa tissue, and 14 of normal lung tissue were analyzed. EBV DNA of the fresh tissue was detected with PCR, and indirect in situ PCR was used to observe the reaction site of EBV DNA, and immunohistochemistry (SABC) was used to detect the expression of p53, Bcl-2, and C-myc gene. Twenty-five cases of the 48 lung cancer had positive staining of EBV DNA and 75% of squamous cell carcinoma showed positive staining of EBV DNA. The positive staining of EBV DNA was closely related to histological classfication of lung cancer ( P < 0. 01) . The positive rate of EBV DNA in paraneoplastic bronchial mucosa tissues and normal pulmonary tissues was 61. 11%( 11/ 18) and 28. 5%( 4/ 14) respectively ( P < 0. 01) . The positive rate of p53, Bcl-2 and C-myc expression in lung cancer tissues was 54. 17%, 37. 5% and 75% respectively. The expression of p53 and Bcl-2 was closely related to histological classification ( P < 0. 05) . The positive rate of p53, Bcl-2 and C-myc expression in patients with positive EBV DNA was significantly higher than that in patients with negative EBV DNA (P < 0. 05) . Lung cancer has high EBV infection. EBV infection may play an important role in the oncogenesis of lung cancer, which might bring about through activating some oncogenes.