Epstein-Barr Virus and Astrocytoma

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an established pathogen linked to a wide range of lymphoproliferative disorders and solid tumors. Astrocytoma is one of the most frequent brain tumors in children, adolescents, and young adults. Astrocyte proliferation usually occurs after brain tissue aggression, which may be of different types, including viral infection. In particular, it has been suggested that EBV may play a role in astrocytoma pathogenesis. This article presents the summarized results of a systematic review of the literature on the relationship between EBV infection and astrocytoma pathophysiology. Although most studies detect the presence of EBV DNA in subsets of astrocytoma tumors, our conclusion is that currently, except for rare cases, there is no clear evidence that EBV plays a role in the development of astrocytoma.