ABSTRACT
Expression of Epstein-Barr virus Latent Member Protein-1 [EBV LMP- 1] and loss of P16 protein expression are documented in lymphoma, indicating a relationship between them, but this relationship is not clear and sometimes contradictory. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between the loss of P16 and EBV LMP-1 expression in Jordanian patients diagnosed with lymphoma. Sections were made from archival formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded blocks from 55 patients diagnosed with lymphoma. P16 expression and LMP-1 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies. In Hodgkin's Lymphoma [HL], the loss of P16 was higher in LMP-1 positive cases [61%] than LMP-1 negative cases [25%; P=0.072]. Conversely, in Non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma [NHL], none of LMP-1 positive samples showed loss of P16. Furthermore, among LMP-1 HL positive cases, the loss of P16 was more frequent in male [75%] than female [33%]. Also, there was a significantly higher proportion of LMP-1 positive cases showing loss of P16 in HL [11: 18], compared to those in NHL [0: 8, P<0.001], confirming a difference between HL and NHL, concerning the LMP-1/P16 relationship. A trend for an association between loss of P16 and LMP-1 expression was observed in HL but not NHL patients. These findings suggest that there are molecular and clinical differences in the pathogenesis and development of different subtypes of lymphoma