Description
Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) is associated with malignancies from lymphoid and epithelial origin. In many cases, an incomplete EBV association is noted and confoundswhate role the virus plays in oncogenesis. A number of viral proteins have been shown to interact with epigenetic factors to regulate both viral and host gene expression. Thus, we hypothesize that EBV may inadvertantly induce epigenetic alterations to the host genome that are maintained upon loss of the virus. If proven, these results would broaden EBV's role in tumorigenesis and provide a mechanism for how a tumor virus can act in a "hit-and-run" fashion.