Epstein-Barr Virus Antigen-Expressing Tumor Cell (EBV+ Tumor Cell)

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigen-expressing tumor cells are malignant or transformed cells that express one or more antigens derived from the EBV genome. These cells are associated with several malignancies, including Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and certain smooth muscle tumors. Key EBV antigens expressed include LMP1, EBNA1, and other EBNAs. Tumors expressing EBV antigens often develop mechanisms to evade immune detection, but can be targeted therapeutically with adoptive T-cell therapies and CAR-T cells.

Other names

EBV-associated tumor cellEBV-infected cancer cellEBV positive tumor

Adoptive transfer or engineering of T-cells specific for viral antigens such as LMPs or EBNAs. CAR-T therapies targeting peptides from the *EBNA3C* protein presented on HLA molecules.