Epstein-Barr Virus and Epithelial Carcinogenesis
Lee Fah Yap and Kwok-Wai Lo
from: DNA Tumour Viruses: Virology, Pathogenesis and Vaccines (Edited by: Sally Roberts). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2018) Pages: 139-162.
Abstract
While the contribution of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) to the development of B cell tumours is well-studied, its precise role in the pathogenesis of epithelial cancers, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC), remains largely undefined. Most of our current understanding of the role of EBV in epithelial carcinogenesis comes from the studies on NPC because almost 98% of NPCs (compared to approximately 10% of gastric cancer) are EBV-positive. Indeed, many unique characteristics of NPC could be attributable to the virus and hence NPC is classified as a distinct type of head and neck cancer. Establishment of latent EBV infection in epithelial cells is thought to be an initiating event in preneoplastic cells, as well as the driving force for disease progression together with additional somatic changes as the tumour evolves. This chapter summarizes the major milestones in EBV research relating to epithelial cancers and describes some recent findings which help further our understanding of the role of EBV in epithelial carcinogenesis read more ...
