The Presence of Defective Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Infection in Patients with EBV-Associated Hematological Malignancy

DiscussionAlthough the essential roles of several latency-associated genes, such as LMP-1 and EBNA-2, in EBV-mediated immortalization and transformation of human lymphocytes have long been discussed, our finding raises the possibility that lytic cycle-associated genes also contribute to lymphomagenesis. This agrees with reports that lytic cycle-associated genes are expressed in Burkitt lymphoma, DLBCL, and chronic active EBV infection, and that BZLF1-deficient lymphoblastoid cells exhibit significantly impaired tumorigenicity in mice. In addition, essential gene deletions lead to the protection of EBV-infected cells from lysis. Further studies are warranted to exploit these findings for the design of novel therapeutics for EBV-associated neoplasms.DisclosuresKiyoi: Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Novartis Pharma K.K.: Research Funding; Phizer Japan Inc.: Research Funding; Sanofi K.K.: Research Funding; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Research Funding; Eisai Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma Inc.: Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; FUJIFILM Corporation: Research Funding; Zenyaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Nakamura: Roche/Chugai,: Research Funding; Kyowa-Kirin: Research Funding.

Source: Blood - November 21, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Okuno, Y., Murata, T., Sato, Y., Muramatsu, H., Ito, Y., Watanabe, T., Okuno, T., Murakami, N., Yoshida, K., Sawada, A., Inoue, M., Kawa, K., Seto, M., Ohshima, K., Shiraishi, Y., Chiba, K., Tanaka, H., Miyano, S., Narita, Y., Yoshida, M., Goshima, F., Ka Tags: 621. Lymphoma-Genetic/Epigenetic Biology: Poster I Source Type: research