Epstein-Barr virus and Hodgkin's disease.
Approximately 40% to 50% of cases of Hodgkin's disease occurring in Western populations are associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In these cases, EBV is found in the neoplastic elements, the Reed-Sternberg and Hodgkin's cells. EBV is probably not present in all cases, but neither have any other viruses been found in the cases that are EBV-negative. EBV may play a role in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease by the activation of anti-apoptotic factors in a premalignant germinal center B-lymphocyte. Regardless of their role in etiology or pathogenesis, EBV-latent antigens may represent a target for possible immune therapy.
Weiss
L M
LM
City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. lweiss@coh.org
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution