Loss of P16 Protein Expression and Its Association with Epstein-Barr Virus LMP-1 Expression in Hodgkin''s Lymphoma

Abstract background: 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. methods: 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. results: 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. conclusion: 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.