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Epstein–Barr virus: more than 50 years old and still providing surprises

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 16, pages 789–802 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

It is more than 50 years since the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), the first human tumour virus, was discovered. EBV has subsequently been found to be associated with a diverse range of tumours of both lymphoid and epithelial origin. Progress in the molecular analysis of EBV has revealed fundamental mechanisms of more general relevance to the oncogenic process. This Timeline article highlights key milestones in the 50-year history of EBV and discusses how this virus provides a paradigm for exploiting insights at the molecular level in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer.

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Figure 1: Timeline showing the major milestones in EBV research.
Figure 2: EBV and its latent genes in 2016.
Figure 3: Virus persistence in the B cells of the human host and the origin of EBV-associated B cell lymphomas.
Figure 4: Schematic representation of the pathogenesis of NPC.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to A. Bell for help with revisions to the figures. L.S.Y. has been supported by Cancer Research UK. L.F.Y. is supported by High Impact Research Grant UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/DENT/23 from the University of Malaya. P.G.M. is supported by a Bloodwise Programme Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

    Lawrence S. Young

  2. Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences and Oral Cancer Research Coordinating Centre, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Lee Fah Yap

  3. Institute of Cancer and Genomic Medicine, University of Birmingham, Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    Paul G. Murray

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Correspondence to Lawrence S. Young.

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Young, L., Yap, L. & Murray, P. Epstein–Barr virus: more than 50 years old and still providing surprises. Nat Rev Cancer 16, 789–802 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc.2016.92

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