title: Epstein-Barr virus infection and nasopharyngeal carcinoma: the other side of the coin.
abstract: Oncogenic viruses may have a significant impact on the therapeutic management of several malignancies besides their well-known role in tumor pathogenesis. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induces neoplastic transformation of epithelial cells of the nasopharynx by various molecular mechanisms mostly involving activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes. EBV infection can also induce the expression of several immunogenic peptides on the plasma membrane of the infected cells. Importantly, these virus-related antigens may be used as targets for antitumor immunotherapy-based treatment strategies. Two different immunotherapy strategies, namely adoptive and active immunotherapy, have been developed and strongly improved in the recent years. Furthermore, EBV infection may influence the use of targeted therapies for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) considering that the presence of EBV can induce important modifications in cell signaling. As an example, latent membrane protein type 1 is a viral transmembrane protein mainly involved in the cancerogenesis process, which can also mediate overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in NPC cells, rendering them more sensitive to anti-EGFR therapy. Finally, EBV may induce epigenetic changes in the infected cells, such as DNA hypermethylation and histone deacetylation, that can sustain tumor growth and can thus be considered potential targets for novel therapies. In conclusion, EBV infection can modify important biological features of NPC cells, rendering them more vulnerable to both immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
authors.affiliation: aMedical Oncology Unit, POC SS Annunziata, Taranto bDepartment of Advanced Biomedical Sciences cDepartment of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples 'Federico II', Napoli, Italy dLester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Della Vittoria Scarpati
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Aniello
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gnoni
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavaliere
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Licchetta
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pisconti
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor