Epstein-barr virus-associated classical hodgkin lymphoma and its therapeutic strategies

Abstract

Over the past few decades, our understanding of the epidemiology and immunopathogenesis of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has made enormous advances. Consequently, the treatment of HL has changed significantly, rendering this disease of the most curable human cancers. To date, about 80% of patients achieve long-term disease-free survival. However, therapeutic challenges still remain, particularly regarding the salvage strategies for relapsed and refractory disease, which need further identification of better prognostic markers and novel therapeutic schemes. Although the precise molecular mechanism by which Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) contributes to the generation of malignant cells present in HL still remains unknown, current increasing data on the role of EBV in the pathobiology of HL have encouraged people to start developing novel and specific therapeutic strategies for EBVassociated HL. This review will provide an overview of therapeutic approaches for acute EBV infection and the classical form of HL (cHL), especially focusing on EBV-associated HL cases. © 2011 The Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology.