EBV-Associated Malignancies

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been implicated in the aetiopathogenic mechanisms of several neoplastic and non-neoplastic disorders. Although the precise mechanisms of the tumourigenic actions of EBV have not yet been fully elucidated, this virus has been strongly linked to subtypes of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (especially Burkitt's lymphoma), HIV/AIDS lymphomas, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and gastric carcinoma, among several others. The fact that persistent infections occur in greater than 95% of adults with an overall relatively low incidence of EBV related tumours compared with the prevalence of infection shows that there are definitely many other factors (genetic and environmental) that contribute to tumour development in EBV positive individuals. In this article, we review some of the currently available knowledge about these relationships in the commonly encountered EBV-associated malignancies. It is hoped that with continued research in the pathogenic mechanisms of EBV, specific roles will be identified that will facilitate the development of specific targeted therapy.