ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate 30 bp deletion of latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 gene in lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) of the salivary glands and to determine the frequency of this deletion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-six cases of salivary gland LEC were investigated by PCR to explore the site specific, 30 bp deletion in the 3' terminal region of LMP-1 gene. To guarantee amplifiable DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue sections, PCR amplification of a house-keeping gene (beta-actin) was performed simultaneously. In addition, DNA sequencing of the PCR product was performed in representative cases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Although amplifiable DNA was obtained in 42 of the 46 specimens, as indicated by beta-actin gene amplification, successful amplification of LMP-1 gene was achieved in 35/42 (83.3%) cases. Two types of PCR products of LMP-1 gene were observed and confirmed by DNA sequencing. A wild-type PCR product (316 bp) was present in 31 cases (88.6%) and only 4 cases (11.4%) showed an aberrant 286 bp PCR product, corresponding to the 3' terminal 30 bp deletion of the gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Site-specific 30 bp deletion of LMP-1 gene is not a common feature of salivary gland LEC.</p>