Epstein-Barr Virus in Lymphomas: a Review

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was discovered in cultured lymphoblasts from samples of African Burkitt’s lymphoma in 1964.’ Since then, it has appeared a likely candidate viral oncogene and serological, epidemiological, and other evidence accumulated associating the virus closely with two other tumours: nasopharyngeal carcinoma (particularly in Africa and China), and post-transplant B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases.’ EBV was also found to be the cause of infectious mononucleosis,3 and to exert multiple and dramatic effects upon B-lymphocytes in vitro.4 Recently, the range of lymphoid tumours linked with the virus has grown to include Hodgkin’s disease, angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, some forms of HIVassociated lymphoma, and primary central nervous system lymphomas. It appears paradoxical that such an ubiquitous virus, causing a common, usually benign and self-limiting infective illness of childhood or early adult life, could also be even partly responsible for such aggressive tumours. In this review we look at some of the fresh evidence that implicates EBV in the pathogenesis of these lymphoproliferative disorders and endeavour to answer the question: is EBV an innocent oncogenic spectator, or a uniquely flexible and dangerous human carcinogen?