The role of oncogene or tumor supressor gene in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated malignant lymphomas (MLs) is poorly understood. We examined 36 MLs (21 EBV positive and 15 EBV negative) and 6 reactive hyperplasias for the presence of myc gene amplification. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology was used to examine the state of amplification of the proto-oncogene c-myc in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. Variable degrees of myc gene amplification were detected in reactive hyperplasias and MLs. However, significant increase of c-myc copy numbers above 3 times were only found in 12 out of 31 non-Hodgkin's MLs (38.7%), in which 6 cases were EBV positive and 6 cases were EBV negative. In conclusion, myc gene amplification appears to play a part in MLs but no correlation was found between EBV infection and myc gene amplification.