BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive tumor of cutaneous neuroendocrine cells with a reported 13-fold increased incidence in immunocompromised patients, raising the possibility that it is driven by an oncogenic virus. Additionally, Merkel cell hyperplasia is seen in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven process oral hairy leukoplakia, and EBV is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of several other malignancies. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that EBV is involved in MCC. METHODS: We employed EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization (ISH), lytic EBV ISH, latent membrane protein 1 immunohistochemistry, and BamH1Z leftward reading frame 1 immunohistochemistry to detect and localize EBV in paraffin sections of MCC from five patients as well as seven other cutaneous tumors and positive controls for EBV infection. RESULTS: Positive controls reacted appropriately. However, there was no evidence of latent or lytic EBV in any of the MCC biopsies or other cutaneous tumors. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that EBV is not associated with MCC. Copyright Blackwell Munksgaard 2006.
BACKGROUND:Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive tumor of cutaneous neuroendocrine cells with a reported 13-fold increased incidence in immunocompromised patients, raising the possibility that it is driven by an oncogenic virus. Additionally, Merkel cell hyperplasia is seen in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven process oral hairy leukoplakia, and EBV is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of several other malignancies. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that EBV is involved in MCC. METHODS: We employed EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization (ISH), lytic EBV ISH, latent membrane protein 1 immunohistochemistry, and BamH1Z leftward reading frame 1 immunohistochemistry to detect and localize EBV in paraffin sections of MCC from five patients as well as seven other cutaneous tumors and positive controls for EBV infection. RESULTS: Positive controls reacted appropriately. However, there was no evidence of latent or lytic EBV in any of the MCC biopsies or other cutaneous tumors. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that EBV is not associated with MCC. Copyright Blackwell Munksgaard 2006.
Authors: Eva-Susanne Strobel; Petra Feyer; Maria Steingräber; Annette Schmitt-Gräff; Peter Karl Kohl Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2007-07-25 Impact factor: 4.553