[Expression of CD25+ lymphocytes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its association with EBV infection].

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression of CD25(+) lymphocytes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissue and the influence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection on CD25 expression. METHODS:Immunohistochemistry was used to detect CD25 expression in the NPC tissues and in situ hybridization employed to detect EBV infection with chronic nasopharyngitis tissue as the control sample. RESULTS:Significant difference was noted in the expression of CD25(+) lymphocytes between NPC and chronic inflammatory tissues. The expression was higher in undifferentiated NPC than in keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma and non-keratinizing carcinomas. The NPC tissue was all EBV-positive except for one sample, which was identified as keratinizing carcinoma, but the control samples were all negative for EBV infection, which was correlated with CD25 expression. CONCLUSION:The expression of CD25(+) lymphocytes is higher in NPC tissues and correlated to EBV infection.