Epstein-Barr virus in breast carcinoma: A study on an Iranian population

Abstract

Background: Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most frequent type of breast carcinoma. Epstein-Barr virus is the most suspicious virus for the viral etiology of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) in IDC. Methods: 40 Iranian women with invasive ductal carcinoma of breast were enrolled in this study. Tumors were assessed for the expression of EBNA1 antigen by PCR technique. Demographics of patients as well as characteristics of tumors including size, grade, and axillary lymph node status were collected and compared between EBNA1 positive and EBNA1 negative tumors. Findings: The mean age of patients was 48.7 year. EBNA-1 PCR assay was positive in 11 patients (27.5). The mean diameter of tumors was 4.43 cm. Axillary lymph nodes were involved in 22 patients. Tumors were grade I, II, and III in 5, 19, and 16 patients, respectively. EBNA-1 positive tumors were significantly larger than EBNA-1 negative tumors (5.5 ± 2.6 vs. 4.0 ± 2.4; P = 0.049). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, EBV might have a role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. © 2016, Journal of Isfahan Medical School. All rights reserved.