title: Induction of lytic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection by synergistic action of rituximab and dexamethasone renders EBV-positive lymphoma cells more susceptible to ganciclovir cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: The purposeful induction of the lytic form of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection combined with ganciclovir (GCV) treatment has been advocated as a novel strategy for EBV-positive B-cell lymphoma. We demonstrated that rituximab had a synergistic effect with dexamethasone on induction of the lytic EBV infection in CD20-positive lymphoma cells. Addition of GCV to the dexamethasone/rituximab-treated cells was more effective than dexamethasone/rituximab alone in killing EBV-positive lymphoma cells in vitro and in lymphoma-bearing nude mice but not in EBV-negative cells. These data suggest that induction of the lytic EBV infection with dexamethasone/rituximab in combination with GCV could be a potential virally targeted therapy for EBV-associated B-cell lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Respiratory Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi 783-8505, Japan. daibatam@med.kochi-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daibata
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bandobashi
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.forename: Shosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.forename: Hirokuni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taguchi
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D000069283:Rituximab; D014775:Virus Activation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D003907:Dexamethasone; D015774:Ganciclovir