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Epstein-Barr Virus (LMP-1) and p16 Expression Patterns in Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas subtypes: A 5-year Retrospective Study from Kano, Northern Nigeria

Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common types of head and neck cancers, characterised by a distinct geographic distribution. The disease has been linked to Epstein-Bar Virus (EBV) infection, and environmental agents. P16 is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that is involved in cell cycle regulation. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate LMP-1 positivity and p16 overexpression in cases of nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) diagnosed in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano over a 5-year period between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study covering five years (2015 to 2019) of all NPC cases diagnosed at the Department of Histopathology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano (AKTH). The collected data included patients’ demographic details, clinical information, histological diagnosis, and p16/LMP-1 immunohisto- chemical status. Results: A total of 78 cases of NPC were analysed. The ages of patients ranged from 12 to 81 years with a mean of 40.8±13.5 years. Males constituted 63 (81%) of the 78 cases and females the remaining 15 (19 %) cases, giving a male to female ratio of 4.2:1. Non-keratinising carcinoma (NKNPC) was the most frequent histologic type accounting for 51 (65%) cases. This was followed by 27 (35%) cases of keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas (KSCC). None of the cases was diagnosed as basaloid NPC. Thirty-five (45%) of the 78 NPC cases were LMP-1 positive while the remaining 43 tumours (55%) were LMP-1 negative. Twenty-one (27%) of the 78 NPC cases were p16-positive while the remaining 57 (73 %) were negative. The LMP-1-/p16- phenotype was the most frequent, constituting 45% while the LMP-1-/p16+ positive cases were the least frequent (10%). Conclusion: NPC in the study population was most common in the fifth decade, had bimodal peak ages and male preponderance. The non-keratinising histologic subtype was the most common and 5 times more common among males. LMP-1 positivity was frequent and was most commonly found among non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. Relative to other studies worldwide, p16 was moderately overexpressed in the study population cases and the LMP-1-/p16- phenotype, which has been associated with worse prognosis, was the predominant phenotype.
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7223427347
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