Re: Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus in Invasive Breast Cancers

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Abstract
Recently, the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in more than 50% of breast carcinoma samples was reported, as detected by DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Southern blotting, and EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) immunohistochemistry by use of the 2B4 and 1H4 rat monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), although EBV-encoded RNAs 1 and 2 (EBER1/2) were not found (1). This finding implicates a novel EBV gene expression pattern (i.e., EBNA1 positive and EBER1 and EBER2 negative) and has important consequences for the use of EBER1/2 RNA in situ hybridization as a diagnostic tool for EBV detection in clinical materials.