Differential analysis of histopathological and genetic markers of cancer aggressiveness, and survival difference in EBV-positive and EBV-negative prostate carcinoma

• Published in: Scientific reports 2024-05, Vol.14 (1), p.10315-10315, Article 10315
• Main Authors: Ahmed, Khalid, Sheikh, Alisalman, Fatima, Saira, Ghulam, Tahira, Haider, Ghulam, Abbas, Farhat, Sarria-Santamera, Antonio, Ghias, Kulsoom, Mughal, Nouman, Abidi, Syed Hani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/326; 631/67; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; CD3 antigen; E-cadherin; EBV; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition - genetics; Epstein-Barr virus; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - complications; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - genetics; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - pathology; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - virology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genetic Markers; Gleason scores; Herpesvirus 4, Human - genetics; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Infiltration; LMP1; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating - immunology; Male; Metastases; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Oncogenes; Prostate; Prostate cancer; Prostate carcinoma; Prostatic Neoplasms - genetics; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Prostatic Neoplasms - mortality; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Prostatic Neoplasms - virology; Regression analysis; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Statistical analysis; Survival analysis; Tissues; Tumor grade; Vimentin
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60538-0

Several studies have shown an association between prostate carcinoma (PCa) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); however, none of the studies so far have identified the histopathological and genetic markers of cancer aggressiveness associated with EBV in PCa tissues. In this study, we used previously characterized EBV-PCR-positive (n = 39) and EBV-negative (n = 60) PCa tissues to perform an IHC-based assessment of key histopathological and molecular markers of PCa aggressiveness (EMT markers, AR expression, perineural invasion, and lymphocytic infiltration characterization). Additionally, we investigated the differential expression of key oncogenes, EMT-associated genes, and PCa-specific oncomiRs, in EBV-positive and -negative tissues, using the qPCR array. Finally, survival benefit analysis was also performed in EBV-positive and EBV-negative PCa patients. The EBV-positive PCa exhibited a higher percentage (80%) of perineural invasion (PNI) compared to EBV-negative PCa (67.3%) samples. Similarly, a higher lymphocytic infiltration was observed in EBV-LMP1-positive PCa samples. The subset characterization of T and B cell lymphocytic infiltration showed a trend of higher intratumoral and tumor stromal lymphocytic infiltration in EBV-negative tissues compared with EBV-positive tissues. The logistic regression analysis showed that EBV-positive status was associated with decreased odds (OR = 0.07; p -value