Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) -associated gastric cancer (EBVGC) makes up about 1-9% of all gastric cancer and is currently a separate subtype with a number of clinical and morphological features. Nevertheless, there were practically no studies of EBVGC in the Russian population.

OBJECTIVE

Identify serologically positive cases of EBVGC in the Russian population and characterize their clinical and morphological features.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Plasma EBV was detected in 83 patients with confirmed gastric cancer by quantitative real-time PCR. In cases where EBV DNA was detected in the blood plasma of patients, the presence of the viral protein LMP-1 was additionally determined in the histological tumor samples (surgical material) by the immunohistochemical method and EBER short RNAs using in situ hybridization. 3 months after surgery, EBV-positive patients underwent re-determination of EBV.

RESULTS

Plasma EBV was detected in only 2 patients (both males) out of 83 (2.4%). EBV-positive patients were over 60 years old (63 and 71 years old), viral loads were 1010 and 979 copies/ml. Both patients had poorly differentiated stage IIIb gastric adenocarcinoma (pT4aN2M0) with damage to the cardiac region and the body of the stomach. The presence of EBER short viral RNAs was shown in both samples. 3 months after the operation, the patients underwent a control determination of EBV while the viral DNA in the blood plasma of both patients was not detected.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of EBV-positive gastric cancer patients in the surveyed cohort was significantly lower (2.4%) than in Western European countries. The identified cases of EBVGC were characterized by a low degree of differentiation and a predominant lesion of the cardiac region and the body of the stomach.