Study of Epstein-Barr Virus in Gastric Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Truong Camtu D, Feng Wei, Li Wei, Khoury T, Li Q, Alrawi S, Yu Yingyan, Xie Keping, Yao James, Tan Dongfeng
Primary Institution: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Hypothesis
What are the characteristics of Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer?
Conclusion
EBV is exclusively present in gastric cancer cells, and its detection in metastatic lymph nodes suggests simultaneous replication with tumor cells.
Supporting Evidence
- 12 out of 235 gastric cancer patients had EBV expression.
- EBV was found only in tumor cells, not in normal gastric tissue.
- 8 of the 12 EBV-positive patients had lymph node metastasis.
Takeaway
This study found that a virus called EBV is only found in cancer cells of the stomach and not in normal cells, and it can spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Methodology
The study analyzed tissue samples from gastric cancer patients using in situ hybridization to detect EBV.
Limitations
The study only included patients who underwent surgical resection and did not account for those who received preoperative treatment.
Participant Demographics
The study included 147 males (63%) and 88 females (37%), with a mean age of 60 years for EBV-positive cases.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0028
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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