RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the pathogenesis of human colorectal cancer. METHODS: The small-molecule RNA fragments of EBV was examined by in situ hybridization in colorectal cancer specimens obtained from 130 patients. RESULTS: EBV was found in the 6 of 130 colorectal cancer cases. EBV positivity was more prevalent in male patients (4/6), and the tumor tissues of the 4 EBV-positive cases were featured by obvious stromal infiltration by the lymphocytes (4/6). CONCLUSION: EBV infection might be related to the pathogenesis of some colorectal adenocarcinomas in China, and intensive lymphocyte infiltration in the stroma of the tumor tissues can be an important pathological indication of EBV infection in colorectal tumors.