Hypermethylation of epithelial-cadherin gene promoter is associated with Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is documented as the important etiologic agent of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) but the mechanism of development and pathogenesis induced by EBV is presently unclear. Hypermethylation of epithelial-cadherin (E-cadherin) promoter has been shown to be induced in NPC cell line by EBV LMP1 via DNA methyltransferase activation. EBV genomes and hypermethylation of E-cadherin promoter were investigated in NPC tissues to evaluate the role of EBV in the hypermethylation and pathogenesis of NPC.

Association between multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 and poor prognosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) multidrug transporters have been associated with chemoresistance, which is a major obstacle in attempts to improve clinical outcome of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we investigated 3 ABC multidrug transporters including MDR1, MRP1, and BCRP for their potential as prognostic indicators in patients with NPC. We examined the protein expression profiles of MDR1, MRP1, and BCRP in NPC tissues from 60 patients with advanced stages who were treated with radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy.

Epstein-Barr virus associated lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland; a clinicopathological report of three cases.

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma is a relatively uncommon malignant tumor of the salivary gland demonstrating malignant epithelial cells with dense lymphoid stroma. The authors report three cases of lymphoepithelial carcinoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus of the right parotid gland with clinically presenting as painless, gradual enlargement of the preauricular mass. The histopathologic examination of the parotid gland is characterized by malignant epithelial cells with dense lymphoid stroma.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung presenting as a cavitary lesion.

The authors describe a 62-year-old female patient who presented with a progressively enlarging cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe of the lung. Acid-fast bacilli were recovered from a bronchial washing fluid and identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She received antituberculous therapy for 5 months without improvement in her clinical symptoms and chest radiograph.