ABSTRACT
Purpose To investigate the clinicopathologic features and immunophenotype as well as its association with EBV infection of lymphoepithelioma-like gastric carcinoma (LLGC). Methods The clinical pathological data were reviewed, morphological changes were observed and immunohistochemical staining was done in 6 cases of LLGC. The expression of EBV-encoded small RNA ( EBER) in the 6 cases of LLGC were carried out by in situ hybridization. Results All of the six patients were male, the age was arranged 47 to 68 years, with mean of 55 years. All of the six cases, the lesions were located in gastric body. Microscopically, the undifferentiated carcinoma cells were arranged in cords and nests, scattering in the lymphoid-rich stroma, occasionally poor development tubular struc-tures were seen in the near surface of mucosa. Lymphoid follicles could be seen with lack of fibrous tissues reaction in the tumor stro-ma. Immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization showed the tumor cells were diffusely positive for CKpan, CK19, CEA and EBER, but negative to CK7, CK20, CK5/6 and LMP1; interstitial lymphocytes expressed CD3 or CD20, while lost expression of EBER. Follow-up for 6-57 months, all of the 6 patients were survived without tumor. Conclusions The LLGC is a rare and unique subtype of gastric carcinoma with good prognosis, which is often associated with EBV infection.