Which malignancies are commonly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)?

Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma are the malignancies most commonly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

EBV, a member of the herpesvirus family, is known to be linked to various malignancies through its role in cellular transformation and immunomodulation. Burkitt's lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is characterized by a rapid proliferation of B cells and is prevalent in children and young adults. The connection between EBV and Burkitt's lymphoma is well-established, especially in endemic forms found predominantly in Africa, where it often presents with jaw lesions.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, on the other hand, is a malignancy that arises from the epithelial cells of the nasopharynx and has a strong association with EBV in certain geographic regions, particularly in Southern China and Southeast Asia. The presence of the virus in tumor cells can be detected, and EBV is thought to play a crucial role in the development of this cancer due to its ability to influence molecular pathways and promote oncogenesis.

In contrast to the other malignancies listed, the associations cited are not recognized correlations with EBV. For example, while leukemia and liver cancer may have other viral associations,