Viral Causes of Lymphoma: The History of Epstein-Barr Virus and Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1

Abstract

In 1964, Epstein, Barr, and Achong published a report outlining their discovery of viral particles in lymphoblasts isolated from a patient with Burkitt lymphoma. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was the first human cancer virus to be described, and its discovery paved the way for further investigations into the oncogenic potential of viruses. In the decades following the discovery of EBV, multinational research efforts led to the discovery of further viral causes of various human cancers. Lymphomas are perhaps the cancer type that is most closely associated with oncogenic viruses: infection with EBV, human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus/human herpesvirus 8, and hepatitis C virus have all been associated with lymphomagenesis. Lymphomas have also played an important role in the history of oncoviruses, as both the first human oncovirus (EBV) and the first human retrovirus (HTLV-1) were discovered through isolates taken from patients with unique lymphoma syndromes. The history of the discovery of these 2 key oncoviruses is presented here, and their impact on further medical research, using the specific example of HIV research, is briefly discussed.

Aberrant CD3-Positive, CD8-Low, CD7-Negative Lymphocytes May Appear During Viral Infections and Mimic Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma

“…Viral infections often provoke fever or fatigue; especially, EBV infection is often associated with cervical lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. However, several lymphotropic virus infections are associated with T-cell lymphoma and sometimes such viral infections lead to rapidly deteriorating clinical courses, occasionally with fatal outcome, particularly in children and young adults [1,9]. Flow cytometry as a fast technique and a standard tool for the classification of peripheral lymphomas may therefore be useful in this scenario because T-cell lymphoma in particular is a potentially life-threatening disease with poor outcome [10].…”

Crusted (Norwegian) scabies as a strong marker of adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma in HTLV‐1 infection

“…Human T‐cell lymphotropic virus was discovered only in 1980, when it was isolated from a patient with lymphoma; thus, it remains a topic of research interest. Knowledge of the pathogenesis is also recent, and a variety of symptoms and diseases potentially associated with HTLV have not yet been incorporated into the practice of medical investigation.…”

“…In a study in French Guiana, an HTLV-1 endemic area, four of six HTLV-1 seropositive patients had concomitant ATL when CS was diagnosed, or developed ATL a few months later, suggesting that the occurrence of CS in these patients is a sign of ATL-related immunosuppression 3 or a prediagnostic sign of ATL. 4 Human T-cell lymphotropic virus was discovered only in 1980, when it was isolated from a patient with lymphoma 5,6 ; thus, it remains a topic of research interest. Knowledge of the pathogenesis is also recent, and a variety of symptoms and diseases potentially associated with HTLV have not yet been incorporated into the practice of medical investigation.…”

The central roles of exosomes in hematological malignancies: A new frontier review

“…There is increasing evidence that the indirect actions (i.e. immunosuppression and TME components) of different viruses also play signifi cant roles in lymphomagenesis, (Esau, 2017).…”