Clinical Importance of Epstein⁻Barr Virus-Associated Gastric Cancer

Jun Nishikawa; Hisashi Iizasa; Hironori Yoshiyama; Kanami Shimokuri; Yuki Kobayashi; Sho Sasaki; Munetaka Nakamura; Hideo Yanai; Kohei Sakai; Yutaka Suehiro; Takahiro Yamasaki; Isao Sakaida

doi:10.3390/cancers10060167

Clinical Importance of Epstein⁻Barr Virus-Associated Gastric Cancer

Cancers (Basel). 2018 May 29;10(6):167. doi: 10.3390/cancers10060167.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Laboratory Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. junnis@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
² Department of Microbiology, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, 89-1 Enyacho, Izumo, Shimane 693-8501, Japan. iizasah@med.shimane-u.ac.jp.
³ Department of Microbiology, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, 89-1 Enyacho, Izumo, Shimane 693-8501, Japan. yosiyama@med.shimane-u.ac.jp.
⁴ Department of Laboratory Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. g006up@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
⁵ Department of Laboratory Science, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. kobadon@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
⁶ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. sho.ssk.nv21@gmail.com.
⁷ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. munemune84@hotmail.com.
⁸ Department of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Kanmon Medical Center, 1-1 Sotoura, Chofu, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi 752-8510, Japan. yanaih@kanmon-mc2.hosp.go.jp.
⁹ Department of Oncology and Laboratory Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. sakaik@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
¹⁰ Department of Oncology and Laboratory Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. ysuehiro@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
¹¹ Department of Oncology and Laboratory Medicine, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. t.yama@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
¹² Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. sakaida@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.

Abstract

Epstein⁻Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) is the most common malignancy caused by EBV infection. EBVaGC has definite histological characteristics similar to gastric carcinoma with lymphoid stroma. Clinically, EBVaGC has a significantly low frequency of lymph node metastasis compared with EBV-negative gastric cancer, resulting in a better prognosis. The Cancer Genome Atlas of gastric adenocarcinomas proposed a molecular classification divided into four molecular subtypes: (1) EBVaGC; (2) microsatellite instability; (3) chromosomal instability; and (4) genomically stable tumors. EBVaGC harbors a DNA methylation phenotype, PD-L1 and PD-L2 overexpression, and frequent alterations in the PIK3CA gene. We review clinical importance of EBVaGC and discuss novel therapeutic applications for EBVaGC.

Keywords: DNA methylation; Epstein–Barr virus; endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR); endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD); gastric carcinoma; immune checkpoint inhibitor; programed cell death 1 (PD-1); programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1).

Publication types

Review