CHAPEL HILL - Scientists at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, working with colleagues in Japan, have proven that
a protein called latent membrane protein 1 in Epstein-Barr virus
causes a form of cancer known as B cell lymphoma in mice. The
work is important, the scientists say, because it shows the
protein's central role in Epstein-Barr virus' ability to change
normal cells into cancerous ones. That virus already is known to
cause infectious mononucleosis in humans and has been associated
with such malignancies as Burkett's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma
and nose and throat cancer. It is especially hazardous to AIDS
patients and other patients whose immune systems have weakened.
"We have shown for the first time that Epstein-Barr virus
clearly can cause cancer," said Dr. Nancy Raab-Traub, professor
of microbiology at the UNC-CH School of Medicine and a member of
the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Now we can go
after the specific protein that is responsible and perhaps one
day stop t