Incidence of Epstein-Barr Virus Among Women With Breast Cancer Using Monoclonal Antibodies for Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP1).

BACKGROUND/AIM: Breast cancer is a common type of cancer in Sudan. Numerous studies propose viral oncogenesis as an etiological factor for breast cancer. The aim of the study was to analyze the presence of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) using monoclonal antibodies against latent membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) and determine the correlation between the presence of EBV and clinicopathological characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study used immunohistochemistry to analyze the presence of EBV in 202 samples from Sudanese women diagnosed with breast cancer. Clinicopathological data were collected from patient records from the Radiation and Isotopes Centre in Khartoum State, Republic of Sudan. RESULTS: This study included 202 patients 168 (83.2%), 16 (7.9%), and 18 (8.9%), diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, and papillary carcinoma, respectively. Axillary lymph node metastasis was present in 57 (28.2%) of cases, while 11 patients (5.4%) tested positive for EBV. The mean age of patients was 48.14±14.4 years. EBV infection was more frequently detected in invasive ductal carcinoma cases, and EBV positivity was not associated with cancer type, grade, progesterone levels, and HER2 expression. On the other hand, a statistically significant association was found between EBV presence and lymph node involvement, estrogen receptor status, and age group. CONCLUSION: EBV may not play a vital role in the pathogenesis of breast carcinoma in Sudanese women.

Prognostic Significance of p16 Protein Expression in Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Sudan. The p16 protein plays a vital role in the regulation of the cell cycle. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study analysed the protein expression of p16 in 202 paraffin blocks from Sudanese women with breast cancer using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: This study included 168 (83.2%), 16 (7.9%), and 18 (8.9%) patients with invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, and papillary carcinoma, respectively. There were 95 cases (47.0%) with grade III, 70 cases (34.6%) with grade II, and 23 cases (11.4%) with grade I breast cancer. The hormone receptor status was available for 119 of the cases, and 31 (15.3%), 25 (12.4%), and 63 (31.2%) cases were positive for oestrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, respectively. CONCLUSION: p16 protein expression was associated with high histologic grade, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis. p16 protein expression may potentially be used as a prognostic marker.