Correlation of EBV-LMP Immune Markers Expression with the Clinicopathological Parameters of Gastric Adenocarcinoma by Using Immunohistochemistry
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MBChB. MSc. Histopatholog Correlation of EBV-LMP immune markers expression with the clinicopathological parameters of gastric adenocarcinoma by using immunohistochemistry y/Uruk University-College of dentistry/Baghdad/Iraq
Received: 2025-08-13
Revised: 2025-09-04
Accepted: 2025-09-18
Published: 2025-09-30
Background: Gastric cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The Cancer Genomic Atlas Consortium (TCGA) has recently proposed a molecular subtyping based on the presence of Epstein-Barr virus, microsatellite instability (MSI), genomic stability (GS), and chromosomal instability (CIN). Meanwhile, the Asian Cancer Research Group (ACRG) proposed a different classification based on tumor P53 (TP53) status, constituted by the subtypes MSI, microsatellite stable/epithelial mesenchymal transition (MSS/EMT), MSS/TP53+, and MSS/TP53 negative. Techniques such as immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization have been successfully employed to define the molecular subtypes.Aim of the study :To evaluate the correlation of EBV-LMP immune markers expression with the clinicopathological characteristics (age, sex, location of the tumor, type of surgery, tumor pattern morphology, TNM staging, tumor grade, lympho-vascular and perineural invasion).Materials and Methods : This is a retrospective cohort study that utilizes formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 40 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. The samples were collected retrospectively between January 2020 and January 2023 from archived materials of the Histopathology Department of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Teaching Hospital, The Teaching Laboratory Institute, and some private laboratories in Baghdad, Iraq. The collection period of data and material spanned from the 1st of October 2022 until 1st of October 2023. One section of 5 micrometers in thickness were taken from each block stained with immunohistochemistry for EBV-LMP (latent membrane protein). The correlation of the EBV-LMP immune markers expression with the clinicopatholgical parameters were studied by the author. Results: EBV-LMP immunological staining was positive in 27/40 patients (67.5%). The EBV-LMP marker was significantly correlated with lymph nodal involvement and tumor stage while the other parameters were not significantly associated with the EBV-LMP expression. Conclusion: EBV analysis showed an important relationship to L.N involvement and staging. Therefore, it can be considered as an indicator to determine the prognosis and identify cancer patients who are at greater risk of metastasis.
EBV-LMP immune markers; clinicopathological parameters; gastric adenocarcinoma; immunohistochemistry.