Epstein-Barr virus infection and p16INK4a overexpression in gastric adenocarcinoma

Objective To study Epstein-Barr vires infection and p16 protein abnormal expresson in carcinogenesis and progression of gastric adenocarcinomas (GAC). Methods Immunohistochemical staining SP method was used to detect the expression of LMP-1 and p16 in 97 cases of GAC. Results EBV LMP-1 and p16 protein were detected in 30.9% (30/97) and in 63.91% (62/97) cases of gastric adenocarcinomas respectively.There was no significant difference between EBV-positive and EBV-negative gastric carcinomas in sex, histologic type, depth of tumor invision, lymph node metastasis and clinical stages (P>0.05);overexpression of p16 was associated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stages; no correlation was found between the expression of EBV LMP-1 and p16 protein. Conclusion ①EBV play a role in carcinogensis of GAC. ②P16 gene abnormality is frequently involved in GAC and might be one of the important prognostic factors. ③EBV infection and p16 alteration are two independent roles in GAC carcinogenesis. Key words: Stomach neoplasms; Adenocarcinoma; Herpesviros 4,human; Membrance proteins; Protein p16; Immunohistochemistry