Evidence for Association of Epstein-Barr Virus with Malignant Lymphoepithelial Lesion of Salivary Gland

Abstract

Cancer incidence reports from Alaska, Greenland, and Canada document an increased risk for developing malignant salivary gland tumors among Eskimos.⁽¹⁾ The majority of these tumors are anaplastic, with a definite epithelial component and heavy lymphocytic infiltrate. Some pathologists have classified them as malignant lymphoepithelial lesions (MLEL). The same groups of people have been shown to have an increased risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a tumor well-recognized to be associated with Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). Since 1976 all new NPC patients diagnosed at the Alaska Native Medical Center have been evaluated for EBV, using serology, touch preparations and DNA hybridization, the results of which are published elsewhere. During the same period of time other head and neck malignancies have been evaluated for EBV by the same methods.