EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS EXPRESSION IN TUMOR TISSUES OF HODGKIN'S DISEASE IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

The initial peak incidence of HD in the developing countries is found to be in the age where various viral infections such as EBV, CMV are also seen. The association of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Hodgkin's disease (HD) has been demonstrated by epidemiological and molecular biologic studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of EBV LMP-1 expression by immunohistochemical method in biopsy samples of Turkish children with HD. Also, the association between EBV LMP-1 overexpression and histological subtype, age, sex, presence or absence of B symptoms and survival have been investigated. Paraffin-embedded specimens of lymph nodes of the patients were examined by immunocytochemistry for the presence of LMP-1 expression in Reed-Sternberg cells and variant cells using monoclonal anti-EBV LMP-1 clone 1-4. Twentyone children (15 male, 6 female) with HD were evaluated. The median age of the patients was 8 (3-15) years. Of the 21 cases, 15 (71%) were <=10 age, 11 (52%) in advanced stages (Stage III or IV), 12 (57%) in mixed cellularity subtype. The clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients are in concordance with type I epidemiology seen in developing countries. EBV LMP-1 was found to be positive in all cases (100%, 21/21). The results of the study indicate that EBV is likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of HD in children in Turkey, since it was detected in all specimens. Because there was no association between EBV LMP-1 and histologic subtype, age, stage and survival, EBV LMP-1 expression does not seem to have a prognostic significance.

Keywords: hodgkin's disease, childhood, epstein barr virus