Basaloid-squamous carcinoma of the nasopharynx. An Epstein-Barr virus-associated neoplasm compared with morphologically identical tumors occurring in other sites.

BACKGROUND

Basaloid-squamous carcinoma is a newly characterized, highly aggressive neoplasm occurring mostly in the base of tongue, hypopharynx, larynx, and esophagus. Its occurrence in the nasopharynx is rare.

METHODS

The clinicopathologic features of three cases of basaloid-squamous carcinoma of the nasopharynx are described and were studied for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small nuclear RNA (EBER). For comparison, basaloid-squamous carcinomas occurring in other sites also were studied for the presence of EBV.

RESULTS

EBER was detected in all 3 cases of basaloid-squamous carcinoma occurring in the nasopharynx, but in none of the 13 cases from other sites including the esophagus, larynx, pharynx, hypopharynx, and nasal cavity. The nasopharyngeal basaloid-squamous carcinomas occurred in two male and one female patients with an age range of 48-70 years. The serum immunoglobulin A against the EBV-viral capsid antigen was elevated in all three cases. Two patients developed cervical lymph node involvement during the course of the disease. All three patients were treated by radiotherapy and survived for longer than 34 months compared with the average reported median survival of approximately 2 years for basaloid-squamous carcinomas occurring in the usual sites.

CONCLUSION

Based on this limited study, basaloid-squamous carcinoma occurring in the nasopharynx appears to be an EBV-associated neoplasm, whereas the same tumor occurring in other sites is not. The prognosis is potentially better for patients with nasopharyngeal basaloid-squamous carcinoma, which appears to be pathogenetically and biologically more related to the much more common nasopharyngeal undifferentiated carcinoma.