Expression of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small nuclear RNA 1 in Japanese nasopharyngeal carcinomas.

An examination was made of the incidence of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome and its exact localization in 39 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Japanese patients by means of in situ hybridization (ISH) with a digoxigenin-labeled Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small nuclear RNA 1 (EBER1) oligonucleotide probe. Hybridization signals were observed in the nucleus of tumor cells in all 39 NPCs, including keratinizing carcinomas. The signals varied greatly in intensity from case to case and even from cell to cell in the same tumor, but were recognized in most tumor cells in each case. Signals could occasionally be seen in limiting number of infiltrating small lymphocytes but were absent in all tumors of the tongue, midpharynx and hypopharynx. Combined immunohistochemistry-ISH studies indicated that EBER1 signals were restricted to tumor cells positive for cytokeratin. As a result of this study, it is now possible to perform large-scale retrospective analyses using routine formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections and to combine ISH for the EBV genome with immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin to determine the epithelial features of EBV genome-possessing cells. All NPCs were clearly shown to be EBV-infected, thus indicating that EBV is essential for the oncogenesis of NPCs.