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PMID: 25418193 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Epstein-Barr virus and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Chinese journal of cancer ·Vol. 33 ·No. 12 ·2014-12-00 ·Pages 581-90

Young LS, Dawson CW

Abstract

Since its discovery 50 years ago, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been linked to the development of cancers originating from both lymphoid and epithelial cells. Approximately 95% of the world's population sustains an asymptomatic, life-long infection with EBV. The virus persists in the memory B-cell pool of normal healthy individuals, and any disruption of this interaction results in virus-associated B-cell tumors. The association of EBV with epithelial cell tumors, specifically nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and EBV-positive gastric carcinoma (EBV-GC), is less clear and is currently thought to be caused by the aberrant establishment of virus latency in epithelial cells that display premalignant genetic changes. Although the precise role of EBV in the carcinogenic process is currently poorly understood, the presence of the virus in all tumor cells provides opportunities for developing novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. The study of EBV and its role in carcinomas continues to provide insight into the carcinogenic process that is relevant to a broader understanding of tumor pathogenesis and to the development of targeted cancer therapies.

MeSH Terms
B-Lymphocytes Carcinoma Epithelial Cells Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/complications Herpesvirus 4, Human Humans Lymphoma, B-Cell Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/virology Stomach Neoplasms
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Young Lawrence S
Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK. L.S.Young@warwick.ac.uk.
Dawson Christopher W
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Article Info
Journal
Chinese journal of cancer
Abbr.
Chin J Cancer
ISSN
1000-467X
DOI
10.5732/cjc.014.10197
Email
l.s.young@warwick.ac.uk
Published
2014-12-00
Epub
2014-00-21
Pages
581-90
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
101498232
PMCID
PMC4308653
Subset
IM
Grants
Cancer Research UK · United Kingdom
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.5732/cjc.014.10197 PMC Full Text View journal details
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