Epstein–Barr Virus Infection in Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma: EBER Analysis by In Situ Hybridization
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66778/RM.v09n01.07Keywords:
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL), EBV encoded small RNAs( EBERs), in situ hybridization (ISH)Abstract
Introduction: Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with various neoplasms, including pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). This relationship is more evident in developing countries, where primary infection occurs at an early age due to the high viral burden in the population. In Central America, however, studies exploring its presence in these tumors are limited, hindering a full understanding of its role in the etiopathogenesis of pediatric HL and restricting the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies tailored to the regional context. Objective: To investigate the presence of EBV in paraffin-embedded biopsy samples from pediatric HL cases treated at the National Children’s Hospital Benjamín Bloom. Materials and Methods: EBV infection in tumor cells was assessed using in situ hybridization (ISH) targeting EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs), considered the gold standard for detecting latent infection. Results: The findings showed that 71.42% of samples were positive for EBERs, confirming the presence of the virus and its potentially strong association with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) in this pediatric population. Conclusion: Overall, these results reinforce the important role EBV may play in the pathogenesis of pediatric cHL in regions with high viral endemicity, such as Central America. ISH remains an indispensable diagnostic tool for identifying latent infection, providing valuable information with potential clinical implications. These findings are particularly relevant in the context of emerging immunotherapies directed against viral antigens, which may pave the way for more personalized treatments for patients with EBV-positive tumors. Furthermore, they highlight the need to expand regional research by incorporating larger sample sizes and integrating clinical and immunological variables to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the interaction among EBV infection, the host, and the neoplasm.
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