Abstract 2370: Elevated levels of anti-Epstein Barr virus (EBV) antibodies in EBV-associated gastric carcinoma

Abstract Background: Almost 10% of gastric carcinomas contain Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, which is not found in other gastrointestinal tract cancers. EBV-positive tumors have distinct clinico-epidemiologic features and are molecularly characterized by recurrent PIK3CA and absent TP53 mutations, JAK2 and PD-L1/L2 amplifications, and extreme DNA hypermethylation. Identification of the gastric cancer-specific antibody response to this common infection may elucidate its contribution to carcinogenesis and provide a non-invasive method to detect EBV-positive gastric tumors. Methods: Plasma samples from Latvian patients with EBV-positive (n=28) and -negative (n=34) gastric cancer were immune-pro…