title: Detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in American Burkitt's lymphoma.
abstract: Twenty American patients with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) were studied serologically and biochemically to detect an association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). A wide range of antibody reactivities was encountered. Five patients had serological profiles similar to those of African patients with BL: one and possibly two of these patients harbored EBV-DNA in their tumors. Fifteen patients had low or absent antibody to EBV: tumors from 10 of these patients lacked evidence of EBV-DNA. An unexplained association between elevated antibody (greater than or equal to 1:80) to EBV virus capsid antigen (VCA) and a favorable prognosis was noted in this series; this prognostic observation requires further substantiation. Thus, it appears that EBV-associated BL is inversely proportional to tumor endemicity. An etiological role for EBV in BL remains speculative.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral