Epidemiological study, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization studies of nasopharyngeal carcinomas: A Tunisian report

• Published in: Pathologie biologie (Paris) 2009-07, Vol.57 (5), p.427-429
• Main Authors: Hila, L., Farah, F., Ayari, H., Ferjaoui, M., Dehria, W., Ben Jilani, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antigène nucléaire (EBNA1); Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Biopsy; Carcinoma - chemistry; Carcinoma - epidemiology; Carcinoma - genetics; Carcinoma - pathology; Carcinoma - virology; Carcinomes du nasopharynx (CNP); Encoded nuclear antigen (EBNA1); Epidemiology; Epidémiologie; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - epidemiology; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - genetics; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - virology; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens - analysis; Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA1 (EBER1); Genes, Viral; Herpesvirus 4, Human - genetics; Herpesvirus 4, Human - isolation & purification; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Latent membrane proteins (LMP1); Medical sciences; Nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC); Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - chemistry; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - epidemiology; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - genetics; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - virology; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Protéine de latence (LMP1); RNA, Viral - analysis; Trans-Activators - analysis; Tumors; Tunisia - epidemiology; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Viral Matrix Proteins - analysis; Viral Proteins - analysis; Virus Latency
• ISSN: 0369-8114; 1768-3114
• DOI: 10.1016/j.patbio.2008.07.029

Nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) are a significant problem of public health in Tunisia. They are particular because of their characteristic geographic distribution. The aims of this study were, first, to appreciate the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) and to compare their benefits to NPC diagnosis and, secondly, to verify the relation between NPC and factors bound to the food and environment conditions. Biopsies, recruited at the department of pathology of EPS Charles Nicolle at Tunis, were analyzed for EBV genome presence by ISH of EBV-encoded small RNA1 (EBER1). IHC was done with encoded nuclear antigen (EBNA1), latent membrane proteins (LMP1), and antigen BZ1 anti-Z EBV-replication activator (ZEBRA). An epidemiological study based upon the analysis of a detailed questionnaire submitted to patients (all from the north of Tunisia) and 60 witnesses was done. The statistic analysis was realised by SPSS Windows 11.5 Advanced Statistics. All samples were classified as Undifferentiated Carcinoma of Nasopharyngeal type (UCNT). We found a sex ratio of 2 with a bimodal repartition. ISH showed 96.6% positive samples. IHC revealed the EBV in 90% of cases and 66.7%, respectively, with EBNA1 and LMP1. The statistic analysis showed a meaningful relation ( P < 0.05, OR > 3) between NPC and dietary factors (spices and piquant condiment), alcohol and the water quality. En Tunisie, les carcinomes du nasopharynx (CNP) posent un problème significatif de santé publique. Ces cancers sont particuliers en raison de leurs étiologies multifactorielles et de leur distribution géographique caractéristique. Le but de ce travail était, d’une part, de quantifier l’implication du virus d’Epstein-Barr dans notre série et de comparer les apports de l’immunohistochimie (IHC) et de l’hybridation in situ (ISH) dans le diagnostic du CNP et, d’autre part, de vérifier sa relation avec certains facteurs alimentaires et environnementaux. L’étude immunohistochimique des biopsies recrutées au service d’anatomie et cytologie pathologiques de l’EPS Charles-Nicolle de Tunis a été réalisée avec trois anticorps : la protéine de latence (LMP1), l’antigène nucléaire (EBNA1) et BZ1 anti- Z EBV-replication activator (ZEBRA). L’ISH a été réalisée par une sonde spécifique Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA1 (EBER1). En parallèle, une analyse d’un questionnaire détaillé soumis à 30 patients et à 60 témoins a été réalisée. L’étude statis