International Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research (Apr 2023)
The Oncogenic Role of Epstein-Barr virus Infection in Increasing the Risk of Breast Carcinoma: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is a rising concern and has become the world’s most prevalent cancer. Almost 90-95% of the world population is infected with Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) but the severity of its manifestations varies.EBV could increase the risk of breast cancer development by either activating the HER2/HER3 signaling cascades or creating a state of prolonged immune stimulation. EBV infection can elevate the pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulation of aromatase activity. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of several electronic databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, EBSCOhost, JSTOR, and Scopus was conducted. The primary outcome of this review was to assess the prevalence of EBV in breast cancer tissue. Results: 25 case-control studies with a total of 2116 breast cancer cases versus 1132 control cases were included in our analysis. The mean age of affected subjects was 48.19 years, SD 8.7. EBV infection was detected in 24.6% of the breast cancer cases included in this review. EBV infection was mainly associated with invasive breast cancer. Conclusions: EBV infection might be related to an increase in breast cancer risk. More studies are needed to better understand EBV's viral oncogenic effects on the pathogenesis of breast cancer and to optimize prevention and treatment strategies for breast cancer.
