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Detection of Epstein‐Barr virus DNA in American Burkitt's lymphoma
Author(s) -
Ziegler John L.,
Andersson Maria,
Klein George,
Henle Werner
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910170603
Subject(s) - burkitt's lymphoma , virology , lymphoma , virus , epstein–barr virus , herpesviridae , dna , medicine , biology , viral disease , cancer research , immunology , genetics
Twenty American patients with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) were studied serologically and biochemically to detect an association with Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV). A wide range of antibody reactivities was encountered. Five patients had serorogical profiles similar to those of African patients with BL: one and possibly two of these patients harbored EBV‐DNA in their tumors. Fifteen patients had low or absent antibody to EBV: tumors from 10 of these patients lacked evidence of EBV‐DNA. An unexplained association between elevated antibody (≥1:80) to EBV virus capsid antigen (VCA) and a favorable prognosis was noted in this series; this prognostic observation requires further substantiation. Thus, it appears that EBV‐associated BL is inversely proportional to tumor endemicity. An etiological role for EBV in BL remains speculative.