EBV-positive gastric adenocarcinomas: a distinct clinicopathologic entity with a low frequency of lymph node involvement

Josine van Beek, Axel zur Hausen, Elma Klein Kranenbarg, Cornelis J H van de Velde, Jaap M Middeldorp, Adriaan J C van den Brule, Chris J L M Meijer, Elisabeth Bloemena

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

229 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

PURPOSE: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is detected in a substantial subgroup of gastric adenocarcinomas worldwide. We have previously reported that these EBV-positive gastric carcinomas carry distinct genomic aberrations. In the present study, we analyzed a large cohort of EBV-positive and EBV-negative gastric adenocarcinomas for their clinicopathologic features to determine whether they constitute a different clinical entity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using a validated polymerase chain reaction/enzyme immunoassay-based prescreening method in combination with EBER1/2-RNA in situ hybridization, EBV was detected in the tumor cells of 7.2% (n = 41) of the gastric carcinomas from the Dutch D1D2 trial (N = 566; mean follow-up, 9 years). EBV status was correlated with clinicopathologic features collected for the Dutch D1D2 trial.

RESULTS: EBV-positive gastric carcinomas occurred significantly more frequently in males (P <.0001) and in younger patients (P =.012). Most were of the intestinal type according to the Laurén classification (P =.047) or tubular according to the WHO classification (P =.006) and located in the proximal part of the stomach (P <.0001). A significantly lower tumor-node-metastasis system-stage (P =.026) was observed in the patients with EBV-carrying carcinomas, which was solely explained by less lymph node (LN) involvement (P =.034) in these cases. In addition, a better prognosis, as reflected by a longer disease-free period (P =.04) and a significant better cancer-related survival (P =.02), was observed for these patients, which could be explained by less LN involvement, less residual disease, and younger patient age.

CONCLUSION: EBV-carrying gastric adenocarcinomas are a distinct entity of carcinomas, characterized not only by unique genomic aberrations, but also by distinct clinicopathologic features associated with significantly better prognosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)664-70
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of clinical oncology
Volume22
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Feb 2004

Keywords

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections
  • Female
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Journal Article
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands
  • Prevalence
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Stomach Neoplasms
  • Survival Analysis
  • Survival Rate

Cite this