Elevated expression of ICAM1 (CD54) and minimal expression of LFA3 (CD58) in epstein‐barr‐virus‐positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

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Abstract
Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a remarkable entity among human tumors because of its constant association with the Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV). Malignant epithelial cells harbor the EBV genome and often express at least 2 species of latent EBV protein (EBNA1 and LMP1). Despite the massive presence of tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes, NPC cells obviously escape immune surveillance directed to EBV antigens. Previous investigations carried out on EBV‐positive Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cells have shown that this fact may be partially accounted for by a lack of expression of ICAM1 (CD54) and LFA3 (CD58). ICAM1 and LFA3 have therefore been investigated in fresh NPC biopsies and transplanted NPCs. With only I exception out of 9 cases, NPC cells appear to express high levels of ICAM I and low levels of LFA3. This is a complete inversion of the pattern observed in normal epithelial cells in vivo. Additional investigations will be required to determine to what extent these characteristics affect T‐cell interactions with NPC cells, specially in the process of EBV‐antigen recognition.