Targeted Therapies for Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Lymphomas

Abstract

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the first human tumor virus identified that can transform quiescent B lymphocytes into lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) in vitro. EBV can establish asymptomatic life-long persistence and is associated with multiple human malignancies, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as infectious mononucleosis. Although EBV-associated lymphomagenesis has been investigated for over 50 years, viral-mediated transformation is not completely understood, and the development of EBV-specific therapeutic strategies to treat the associated cancers is still a major challenge. However, the rapid development of several novel therapies offers exciting possibilities to target EBV-induced lymphomas. This review highlights targeted therapies with potential for treating EBV-associated lymphomas, including small molecule inhibitors, immunotherapy, cell therapy, preventative and therapeutic vaccines, and other potent approaches, which are novel strategies for controlling, preventing, and treating these viral-induced malignances.