Detection of Epstein‐Barr virus DNA in American Burkitt's lymphoma

Abstract
Twenty American patients with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) were studied serologically and biochemically to detect an association with Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV). A wide range of antibody reactivities was encountered. Five patients had serorogical profiles similar to those of African patients with BL: one and possibly two of these patients harbored EBV‐DNA in their tumors. Fifteen patients had low or absent antibody to EBV: tumors from 10 of these patients lacked evidence of EBV‐DNA. An unexplained association between elevated antibody (≥1:80) to EBV virus capsid antigen (VCA) and a favorable prognosis was noted in this series; this prognostic observation requires further substantiation. Thus, it appears that EBV‐associated BL is inversely proportional to tumor endemicity. An etiological role for EBV in BL remains speculative.