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.