Molecular detection of Epstein-Barr virus in different types of lymphoma.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a member of the γ herpesvirus subfamily. It is widely spread, potentially oncogenic and has been studied in different human cancers such as gastric carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. EBV replicates in the oral epithelium, and resting B lymphocytes trafficking through the pharynx develop a latent infection in which only EBV genes related to the B cell growth program are expressed: LMP1, -2a/b, BARTs, EBERs and EBNAs. EBNA1 binds a specific DNA sequence in the viral genome responsible for episome replication, segregation and persistence of the viral genome, and is involved in p53 degradation and oncogenesis. It is also involved in p53 degradation and oncogenesis. Since EBV infection is associated with the progression of malignancy in lymphoma, we used EBNA1-based PCR to determine the frequency of EBV infection in lymphoma specimens from patients with different types of lymphomas. Biopsies from lymphoma patients obtained from National Cancer Institute, Misurata and Tripoli Medical Centre (Libya) showed the presence of EBV in 31 of 40 cases (77%). EBV infection rates did not differ significantly between Hodgkin's lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The rates did not vary significantly between the sexes or age groups.