This suggests that such episomes were derived from a single virus present prior to malignant transformation. By contrast, EBV found in the B-cells of healthy carriers contain a variable number of viral terminal repeats. EBV-related cancers can be grouped by cell lineage into lymphomas , carcinomas , and sarcomas . All contain one of three possible chromosome translocations that dysregulate c-myc , a known oncogene. A group of lymphomas associated with immunosuppression following organ transplantation.
Limited data suggest that a history of infectious mononucleosis decreases disease risk.
Incidence rates in southern China exceed western rates as much as 50 times. Risk is elevated by dietary practices and use of herbal medicines, and among persons with chromosomal deletions at 3p25 and 3p14, suggesting the presence of as-yet unidentified tumor suppressor genes at these loci. Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma Rare malignancies similar to NPC but occurring outside of the nasopharynx in the thymus, salivary gland, stomach and lung. Gastric carcinoma has been associated with consumption of salted and preserved foods and negatively associated with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Oral hairy leukoplakia A condition common in AIDS patient involving replication of the EBV in cells along the edge of the tongue.