Smart Maneuver: Epstein-Barr Virus Hijacks Host Genome Boosting Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
2024.03.26
Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a rare cancer of the nasopharynx and is associated with an accompanying Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. EBV is known to alter the host genome and activate latent genes promoting tumor formation. However, EBV-host epigenomic interactions and alterations in NPC are not well understood. In a recent study, researchers from Japan and Singapore revealed that EBV hijacked host enhancers to rewire the host genome and dysregulate gene expression, thus promoting NPC progression.