Collision of Epstein-Barr virus-positive and -negative gastric cancer, diagnosed by molecular analysis: a case report

BackgroundEpstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive gastric carcinoma (GC) is defined by the proliferation of GC cells with EBV infection. The co-existence of EBV-positive and -negative components in a single GC is rare. We report a case of GC with the co-existence of EBV-positive and EBV-negative components, in which we performed-for the first time-various molecular analyses to elucidate their histogenesis.Case presentationAn 81-year-old man was diagnosed with GC based on the results of endoscopy and a pathological examination of the biopsy specimen. Systemic chemotherapy was performed, since lymph node and lung metastases were diagnosed based on computed tomography. Total gastrectomy and lymph node dissection were performed after chemotherapy, after confirming that the size of the metastatic lymph nodes had decreased and that the lung metastasis had disappeared. Grossly, a type 3 tumor was located in the middle posterior part of the stomach body. At the cut section, the tumor consisted of a white and solid part on the anal side of the tumor and a flat and elevated part on the oral side. Histologically, the former part consisted of GC with lymphoid stroma and the latter part was composed of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma without prominent lymphocytic infiltration. The two histopathological components were clearly separated from each other. On EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER)-in situ hybridization (ISH), the part with the lymphoid stroma component was positive, while the other part was negative. Immunohistochemistry revealed that both components showed the overexpression of p53. Sequencing of TP53 using DNA extracted from the two components was conducted, and revealed different patterns. Targeted next generation sequencing revealed MYC amplification in the EBV-positive component of the tumor and HER2 amplification in the EBV-negative part. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the EBV-positive part was C-MYC(+)/HER2(-) and the EBV-negative part was C-MYC(-)/HER2(+). Correspondingly, chromogenic ISH and dual-color ISH showed amplification of C-MYC and no amplification of HER2 in the EBV-positive part, and no amplification of C-MYC and amplification of HER2 in the EBV-negative part.ConclusionWe presented a case of collision of two different GCs composed of EBER-ISH (+)/C-MYC (+) and EBER-ISH (-)/HER2 (+) cells.

Automated summary

We report a rare case of gastric carcinoma with co-existence of EBV-positive and EBV-negative components, and conducted various molecular analyses for the first time to elucidate their histogenesis. The patient, an 81-year-old male, underwent systemic chemotherapy followed by total gastrectomy and lymph node dissection. Molecular analysis revealed different gene expression profiles in the EBV-positive and EBV-negative components of the tumor.