EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS AND HUMAN T-CELL LYMPHOMAS

Epstein-Barr virus has been classically associated with certain B-lymp hocytic benign and malignant proliferations. However, using molecular biological techniques it becomes clear that EBV is also associated wit h several T-NHL in non-immunocompromised patients. The distribution of EBV-associated T-NHL seems to be site-restricted i.e. in about 100% o f the nasal T-NHL and in 20% of the lung and gastrointestinal lymphoma s and rarely in primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Moreover, the expr ession of the LMP1 protein seems to be associated with a poor prognosi s. In this section the role of EBV in the pathogenesis of T-NHL will b e discussed.