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Review
. 2021 Jun 22;11(7):593.
doi: 10.3390/life11070593.

Molecular Genetics in Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Malignancies

Srikanth Umakanthan  1 , Maryann M Bukelo  2
Affiliations
Review

Molecular Genetics in Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Malignancies

Srikanth Umakanthan et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

Global genomic studies have detected the role of genomic alterations in the pathogenesis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated tumors. EBV oncoproteins cause a vital shift of EBV from an infectious virus to an oncogenic form during the latent and lytic phase within the lymphoid B cells and epithelial cells. This epigenetic alteration modulates the virus and host genomes and inactivates and disrupts numerous tumor suppressors and signaling pathways. Genomic profiling has played the main role in identifying EBV cancer pathogenesis and its related targeted therapies. This article reviews the role of genetic changes in EBV-associated lymphomas and carcinomas. This includes the prolific molecular genesis, key diagnostic tools, and target-specific drugs that have been in recent clinical use.

Keywords: Epstein–Barr virus; carcinomas; genome; lymphomas; pathogenesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The contributors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Burkitt Lymphoma: (A) Diffuse effacement of the nodal architecture by atypical lymphoid cells. (B) Starry sky pattern (C) high Mib-1 labeling index.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hodgkin’s lymphoma (A) in HIV (B) positive immunostain for Epstein–Barr virus-latent membrane protein.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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