Article
Oncology
Waruiru Mburu, Susan S. Devesa, David Check, Meredith S. Shiels, Sam M. Mbulaiteye
Summary: Burkitt lymphoma (BL), an aggressive B-cell lymphoma, has shown three age-specific incidence peaks worldwide. A study analyzing BL cases from the US National Cancer Institute's SEER program between 1973 and 2005 and SEER 22 between 2000 and 2019 revealed varying age-specific incidence rates and temporal trends. The overall incidence rate of BL was 3.96/million person-years with a male-to-female ratio of 2.85:1. BL rates were higher among Hispanic and White individuals compared to Black individuals. Survival rates improved between 2000 and 2019. This data suggests changes in etiological factors or diagnosis for BL.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lee-Wen Chen, Shie-Shan Wang, Chien-Hui Hung, Ya-Hui Hung, Chun-Liang Lin, Pey-Jium Chang
Summary: The unfolded protein response (UPR) is crucial for alleviating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and many viruses manipulate the UPR signaling network. In the lytic cycle of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the expression of central UPR regulator GRP78 is up-regulated, and knockdown of GRP78 reduces virus particle production. BMLF1 is identified as a key regulator contributing to the activation of the grp78 gene promoter and can trigger the activation of the UPR senor ATF6.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Cristina Lopez, Birgit Burkhardt, John K. C. Chan, Lorenzo Leoncini, Sam M. Mbulaiteye, Martin D. Ogwang, Jackson Orem, Rosemary Rochford, Mark Roschewski, Reiner Siebert
Summary: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive B cell lymphoma affecting both children and adults. Research has identified key chromosomal aberrations, the role of MYC and Epstein-Barr virus in tumorigenesis. Differentiating between epidemiological variants of BL based on EBV status may better describe the biological heterogeneity of the disease. Diagnosis and treatment of BL vary between children and adults, with generally good outcomes observed in high-income countries.
NATURE REVIEWS DISEASE PRIMERS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Rena R. Xian, Tobias Kinyera, Isaac Otim, Joshua N. Sampson, Hadijah Nabalende, Ismail D. Legason, Jennifer Stone, Martin D. Ogwang, Steven J. Reynolds, Patrick Kerchan, Kishor Bhatia, James J. Goedert, Sam M. Mbulaiteye, Richard F. Ambinder
Summary: The study found that measuring the plasma EBV DNA copy number in children in Uganda is helpful in diagnosing eBL, and can distinguish between children with eBL and control group children.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Mutaz Jamal Al-Khreisat, Nor Hayati Ismail, Abedelmalek Tabnjh, Faezahtul Arbaeyah Hussain, Abdul Aziz Mohamed Yusoff, Muhammad Farid Johan, Md Asiful Islam
Summary: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive B-cell malignancy, especially common in children. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been linked to various cancers, including BL, where it can transform B lymphocytes into immortalized cells. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of EBV in patients with Burkitt lymphoma through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Article
Hematology
Julia Richter, Katharina John, Annette M. Staiger, Andreas Rosenwald, Katrin Kurz, Ulf Michgehl, German Ott, Soren Franzenburg, Christian Kohler, Jasmin Finger, Ilske Oschlies, Ulrike Paul, Reiner Siebert, Rainer Spang, Birgit Burkhardt, Wolfram Klapper
Summary: Sporadic Burkitt lymphoma shows molecular heterogeneity across different age groups, with mutations commonly seen in pediatric BL such as ID3, TCF3, and CCND3 decreasing in adult patients. EBV-positive lymphomas are more frequent in adult patients and exhibit distinct pathogenic features compared to EBV-negative tumors.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Lili Cheng, Qi Song, Mengke Liu, Yan Wang, Hongmei Yi, Ying Qian, Pengpeng Xu, Shu Cheng, Chaofu Wang, Li Wang, Weili Zhao
Summary: PBL is a rare and aggressive hematological malignancy that commonly occurs in immune incompetent patients, with no specific standard treatment currently available. In some cases, immune therapy may be a potential treatment option for PBL, providing new insights into its management.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Jeanne Bohler, Ulrike Bacher, Yara Banz, Raphael Stadelmann, Michael Medinger, Thilo Zander, Thomas Pabst
Summary: 20-40% of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) patients have relapsing or refractory (r/r) disease, and the standard treatment is not well-established. Blinatumomab, a bispecific T-cell engager, may be a potential treatment option for these patients. This retrospective multi-center case series investigated the use of blinatumomab in nine r/r BL patients, and found that it was safe and showed activity in some patients. This suggests that blinatumomab should be further explored as a treatment option for r/r BL.
Article
Oncology
Nobuko Arisue, George Chagaluka, Nirianne Marie Q. Palacpac, W. Thomas Johnston, Nora Mutalima, Sally Peprah, Kishor Bhatia, Eric Borgstein, George N. Liomba, Steve Kamiza, Nyengo Mkandawire, Collins Mitambo, James J. Goedert, Elizabeth M. Molyneux, Robert Newton, Toshihiro Horii, Sam M. Mbulaiteye
Summary: The study found that multiple variants of the malaria parasite protein were associated with an increased risk of endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) in children, but no specific type of variant was linked to the risk. Quantifying malaria parasite variants may provide new insights into the role of malaria infection in eBL.
Article
Virology
Eddy O. O. Agwati, Cliff I. I. Oduor, Cyrus Ayieko, John Michael Ong'echa, Ann M. M. Moormann, Jeffrey A. A. Bailey
Summary: Recombination events play a crucial role in the diversity and evolution of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) genomes in endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL), with evidence of specific recombinants associated with eBL.
Article
Oncology
Semjon Sidorov, Lara Fux, Katja Steiner, Samyo Bounlom, Sabrina Traxel, Tarik Azzi, Arbeneshe Berisha, Christoph Berger, Michele Bernasconi, Felix K. Niggli, Yvonne Perner, Sugeshnee Pather, Werner Kempf, David Nadal, Simone Burgler
Summary: The study reveals the dichotomous effects of CD4 + T cells in endemic Burkitt lymphoma, suggesting that they may suppress cancer development by killing pre-cancerous cells without specific translocations, but also indirectly promote cancer progression by inducing EBV latency switching. Moreover, it demonstrates how CD4 + T cells can impact cancer pathogenesis and progression, providing a new in vitro model for further research on the role of IgH/c-myc translocations.
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY IMMUNOTHERAPY
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Selma Addou, Clementine Sarkozy, Julien Lazarovici, Stephane Champiat, Aspasia Stamatoullas, Fabrice Jardin, Vincent Ribrag, Aurelien Marabelle, Jean-Marie Michot
Summary: Classical Hodgkin lymphoma is a neoplastic hematological disease with a high cure rate in early-stage patients but 15% of patients require new treatment strategies. Some documented cases show cancer remission following viral infections, leading researchers to investigate oncolytic viruses for treating Hodgkin lymphoma. Modern viral technologies and understanding of viruses' relationship with cancer could accelerate the development of effective viral oncolytic therapies.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Beatrice M. Muriuki, Catherine S. Forconi, Erastus K. Kirwa, Titus K. Maina, Bonface O. Ariera, Jeffrey A. Bailey, Anita Ghansah, Ann M. Moormann, John M. Ong'echa
Summary: This study investigated the association between KIR3DL1 and KIR3DS1 genotypes and endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL). The results showed no significant difference in these genotypes between eBL patients and healthy controls, suggesting that the pathogenesis of eBL may not simply involve variations in these genotypes.
Article
Microbiology
Katherine A. Willard, Ashley P. Barry, Cliff I. Oduor, John Michael Ong'echa, Jeffrey A. Bailey, Ann M. Moormann, Micah A. Luftig
Summary: In this study, we describe an unusual spontaneous lytic phenotype in EBV strains isolated from Kenyan endemic Burkitt lymphoma patients. These findings provide insight into viral and host factors involved in this process and the potential contribution of promiscuous lytic activity to the formation of EBV-associated diseases.
Article
Immunology
Andrea M. Summerauer, Vera Jaggi, Rodney Ogwang, Sabrina Traxel, Lorenzo Colombo, Eivind Amundsen, Tatjana Eyer, Bibin Subramanian, Jan Fehr, Pierre-Yves Mantel, Richard Idro, Simone Burgler
Summary: This study found that upon infection with EBV, human B cells upregulate the expression of APOBEC3B and APOBEC3G, while levels of APOBEC3A are increased in B cells of malaria patients. However, only the upregulation of AID has oncogenic consequences in eBL, suggesting the induction of APOBEC3 subfamily may primarily have immunoprotective functions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)