The Role of Epstein–Barr Virus in Cervical Cancer: A Brief Update

Abstract

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) belongs to the group of gamma-herpes viruses and was the first recognized human oncovirus. EBV is responsible for infectious mononucleosis and multiple lymphoid and epithelial malignancies including B-cell lymphomas (Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder), various T-cell/NK lymphoproliferative disorders, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and gastric carcinoma, respectively. In addition, the presence of EBV has been documented in other cancers including breast, prostate, oral, and salivary gland carcinomas. The presence and role of EBV in cervical cancer and its precursor lesions (CIN) have also been described, but the results from the literature are inconsistent, and the causal role of EBV in cervical cancer pathogenesis has not been established yet. In the present review, we briefly surveyed and critically appraised the current literature on EBV in cervical cancer and its variants (lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma) as well as its precursor lesions (CIN). In addition, we discussed the possible interactions between EBV and human papilloma virus as well as between EBV and immune checkpoint regulators (PD-L1). Though further studies are needed, the available data suggest a possible causal relationship between EBV and cervical cancer pathogenesis.

Introduction

Infectious agents contribute to approximately 18% of all cancers worldwide (1). These agents include bacteria (e.g., Helicobacter pylori), viruses [human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), human herpes virus-8, human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1), and Merkel cell polyomavirus], and parasites (e.g., Schistosoma and liver flukes) (1–7). The cancers associated with the abovementioned infections include several hematologic {lymphomas/lymphoproliferative disorders [Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), Burkitt lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, various T-cell/NK lymphoproliferative disorders]} and solid malignancies (carcinomas: nasopharyngeal, hepatocellular, gastric, cervical, Merkel cell, and bladder carcinoma). In addition, the presence of diverse microbial agents (e.g., viruses SV40, BK, JCV, and HTLV-II) has been described in many other cancer subtypes, but the results and causal relationships are inconsistent and inconclusive (7).

Viral infections are the most common cause of infection-related cancer agents (~12–15%) (4, 8). The vast majority of these infections occur in developing countries although the frequency is not negligible in developed world (5, 9). HPVs along with EBV are associated with 38% of all virus-associated cancers (8). Most viral-associated cancers develop after long-term latency (15–40 years) (10). Notably, viral infections within the cancer cells are not mutually exclusive, and synergistic oncogenic effects can and likely occur (see also the paragraph on EBV in cervical cancer) (8, 11). In addition, endemic forms of Burkitt lymphoma (mainly in equatorial Africa), an EBV-associated malignancy, are frequently linked to coinfection with the malaria-causing bacterium called Plasmodium falciparum (1).

EBV and Cancer

Epstein–Barr virus, previously known as human herpesvirus-4, is the first recognized human oncovirus. It belongs to the group of gamma-herpes viruses and is ubiquitously present in the adult population via salivary transmission (2). Upon infection, EBV typically remains in memory B-cells (Figure 1) in a latent phase, but may also be detected in epithelial cells (oropharynx) as well as in subsets of T-cells and NK-cells (2, 3, 5). EBV causes infectious mononucleosis and multiple lymphoid and epithelial malignancies including B-cell lymphomas (Burkitt lymphoma, HL, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder), various T-cell/NK lymphoproliferative disorders, and nasopharyngeal and gastric carcinomas (1, 12, 13).

Figure 1.

Schematic outline showing a potential cooperation between Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human papilloma virus (HPV) oncoproteins to initiate cancer development and enhance malignancy progression. Efficient infection involves the activation of the PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK, JAK/STAT, β-catenin, and p53 pathways. As a result, NF-ĸB upregulation induces cell proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and immune evasion through IFNγ-inducible PD-L1 expression.

The EBV genome is composed of double-stranded DNA, measuring approximately 172 kb in length (2). EBV encodes several viral oncogenes including EBV-encoded nuclear antigens [EBNA (1–3)] and the latent membrane proteins [LMP (1–2)] (14). Interactions of its surface protein gp350 with CD21 receptor and HLA class II on B-lymphocytes represent the major mechanisms of the entrance into B-cells (Figure 1) (2). Upon primary infection and replication, most of its genes are turned off and the virus switches to the latent phase.

Molecular events related to EBV roles in cancer have been well described in HL and undifferentiated variants of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Approximately 50% of HLs are EBV-positive, particularly lymphocyte-depleted and mixed-cellularity variants of HL. Reed–Sternberg (RS) cells, typical B-transformed neoplastic cells in HL, are infected by EBV. RS activation and survival are largely dependent on NF-ĸB upregulation that is mediated by the interaction of CD40 receptor and LMP1 oncoprotein of EBV (Figure 1) (15). Other signaling pathways may also be activated by this interaction including MAPK/ERK, PIK3CA/AKT, JAK/STAT, and Notch pathways (Figure 1) (2). Apart from LMP1 oncoprotein, EBNA1 is another important EBV product that is required for the replication and maintenance of EBV genome (2). In the case of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, LMP1, LMP2, and EBNA1 products of EBV have been shown to promote cell growth and exert antiapoptotic effects in neoplastic cells (16), while LMPA2A prevents epithelial differentiation of the cells (14). They are also involved in cancer progression, invasion, and metastases as well as immune evasion, all the features that contribute to a highly aggressive behavior of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (16). Several recent studies also highlight novel mechanisms on the complex interplay between viruses (including EBV and HPV), immune system, and carcinogenesis. Among these, apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzymes (APOBEC) family of deaminases appears to play a prominent role (17, 18). APOBEC family of enzymes, involved in the editing of DNA and/or RNA sequences, acts on the inner immune system against viruses and endogenous retroelements (19). A study of Kalchschmidt et al. showed that EBV (via its protein EBNA3C) may upregulate one of the APOBEC enzymes called activation-induced cytidine deaminase in EBV-infected B-lymphocytes (18). This may lead to somatic hypermutations at the IgH locus of B-lymphocytes and consequently induce progression of EBV-infected B-lymphocytes into neoplastic B-cells (lymphomas) (18). Similarly, Chen et al. demonstrated the importance of APOBEC enzymes in mediating the complex interactions between HPV infection, host immune system, and cervix during cervical cancer progression (17).

Epstein–Barr virus expression has also been described in several other solid malignancies including breast, prostate, oral, and salivary gland carcinomas (20–23).

Of note, EBV vaccines aimed to prevent primary infection and to treat EBV-related malignancies have been developed but still not approved (24, 25). The prophylactic vaccines have focused on EBV gp350 protein, which represents the major target of neutralizing antibodies while therapeutic vaccines targeted LMP2 and EBV nuclear antigen-1 (24). Thus, a phase 2 clinical trial conducted by Sokal et al. showed that the EBV vaccine had reduced the rate of infectious mononucleosis, but not the EBV infection (26). On the other hand, the studies have shown that the infusion of EBV-specific T cells may be effective in the treatment of EBV-associated malignancies such as HL and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (24). Given the frequency of EBV-associated cancers, the EBV vaccines are urgently needed.

Role of EBV in Cervical Cancer: Possible Oncogenic Effects of HPV/EBV Interactions

Cervical cancer is the fourth-most common and fourth-most deadly female malignancy worldwide (27, 28). In developing countries, it is the most common cancer subtype and the third leading cancer-mortality causes (28). The vast majority (more than 95%) of the cervical cancers (squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas) has been attributed to the infection with high-risk HPVs (14, 27), which are now considered a major cause of cervical cancer (12). Numerous high-risk HPVs have been linked to cervical cancer including HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, and 59 (these viruses are allocated by IARC in Group 1 given that their carcinogenicity has been sufficiently demonstrated) (7). However, most common (~70%) HPV types involved in cervical carcinogenesis are HPV16 and 18 (29). It is well known that high-risk HPVs act via their proteins E6 and E7 that interact with p53 and pRb affecting the cell cycle, apoptosis, and cell adhesion (Figure 1) (11, 29, 30).

Previous data indicate that other infectious agents may also be actively involved in cervical carcinogenesis (12). Among these, EBV appears to be one of the most relevant. Some, but not all early studies, published more than two decades ago, offered the evidence of EBV DNA presence in both precancerous (CIN) and invasive cervical carcinoma cells (31–34), suggesting its possible role in the pathogenesis of cervical carcinoma. Other studies revealed the presence of EBV in inflammatory, but not in cervical cancer cells (35–39).

A recently published meta-analysis (12), based on 25 publications, revealed the pooled prevalence of EBV in cervical cancer to be 43.63%, which was significantly higher in comparison with healthy controls (19%). In addition, EBV expression gradually increased from 27% (CIN1) to 35% (CIN2/3). EBV coinfection with HPV also posed a fourfold increased risk of cervical cancer in EBV-positive women (12); similarly, precancerous cervical lesions were twice as common in EBV-positive women compared with EBV-negative cases (12). Taken together, these data indicate EBV as a potentially active cofactor (not only passenger/bystander) in the cervical cancer pathogenesis and progression.

Most cervical carcinomas are invasive squamous cell carcinomas (keratinizing and non-keratinizing types). However, many other subtypes have been recognized including lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the cervix (40). LELC is a poorly differentiated (non-keratinizing) cervical carcinoma with rich inflammatory stroma, composed predominantly of T-lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+) with minor component of B-lymphocytes (CD20+ and CD79a+) and NK-cells (CD56+) (41–43). It is a distinct variant of cervical carcinoma that may also be associated with HPV infection (44) although some studies revealed no HPV infection in LELC (43, 45). Morphologically, it is similar to its nasopharyngeal counterpart that is a prototype of cancer associated with EBV infection (46). LELC exhibits some unique clinicopathologic characteristics including affection of younger patients, presentation at earlier stage, and more favorable outcome compared with conventional cervical carcinoma (45, 47). Although some studies reported association of LELC with EBV infection in Asian women (47, 48), other studies failed to confirm this observation including other ethnic groups (e.g., Caucasians) (44, 49–54). In addition, the study of Chao et al. using real-time PCR and EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization revealed the EBV sequences in a florid inflammatory stromal component, but not in poorly differentiated squamous cells of LELC (45). In contrast, EBV presence has been documented in neoplastic cells of the lymphoepithelial carcinomas at other locations (e.g., salivary and lacrimal glands, middle ear, larynx, pancreas, and esophagus) (55–60).

In addition, EBV infection has been demonstrated in several lymphoproliferative lesions of the cervix, e.g., lymphoma-like lesions (35, 61, 62) and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (63).

HPV and EBV in Cervical Cancer

One of the most intriguing research issues is the possible synergistic effects of HPVs and EBV in promoting cervical carcinogenesis and progression. Such synergism and coinfections have already been observed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, particularly the variant from the endemic regions (China and Southeast Asia) (14) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (11, 64).

A recent meta-analysis of de Lima et al. (12) revealed a HPV/EBV coinfection rate in cervical carcinoma to be ~29%. They also found a positive association between EBV load and lesion grade (from CIN1 to CIN3 and invasive cancer), indicating a potential causal role of EBV in cervical carcinogenesis and progression (an illustration of EBV positivity in CIN3 lesion and cervical carcinoma is shown in Figure 2). One of the possible scenarios is a transformation of cervical cells via C3d complement receptor that is widely expressed in cervix, making cervical cells more sensitive to various oncogenic stimuli (8). EBV presence in cervix may also accelerate integration of HPV genome into cervical cell’s genome, enhancing genomic instability of the infected cervical cells (65). In addition, chronic cervicitis, a common condition during female reproductive life, may also facilitate the EBV infection and its potential oncogenic effects (8). We have also proposed that viruses alone or in collaboration may induce oncogene activation and promote the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, one of the key steps in cancer progression and metastasis (Figure 1) (66).

Figure 2.

A tissue microarray sample of cervical cancer associated with CIN3 lesion exhibiting strong positivity for Epstein–Barr virus (latent membrane protein 1 antibody) (immunohistochemistry, 10×).

As correctly observed in the meta-analysis of de Lima et al. (12), EBV along with cytomegalovirus (CMV) may also be detected in cervical secretions and uterine cervix from healthy young women. Several studies confirmed the frequency of EBV and CMV in cervical secretions among healthy women to be between 10 and 30% (67–70). Such findings may also be clinically relevant given that viruses such as CMV, HSVs, and varicella zoster may cause congenital, perinatal, or neonatal infections (67). The role of vertical transmission of EBV is still uncertain although rare cases of congenital EBV infection have been reported (71, 72).

The discrepant data on EBV positivity rate in cervical may be caused by the different diagnostic assays, the sample type, and other technical issues that may affect the results (e.g., automated vs. manual detecting system) (73). Thus, PCR is a highly sensitive method, but it cannot discriminate between neoplastic (epithelial) and stromal/inflammatory cells (e.g., B-lymphocytes) giving the false-positive results (74) while in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical assays (e.g., ISH RNA and specific antibodies against EBV antigens, see Figure 2) may be more helpful to precisely identify the viral load in the specific cell compartments. Of note, most studies exploring and reporting EBV positivity in cervical carcinoma used only PCR-based assays (65, 75–78). One study reported EBV positivity by PCR in CIN3 lesions and cervical carcinoma in 15 and 5.8%, respectively, while ISH RNA (EBER) revealed no EBV positivity (0%) in any of the tested samples (79). This led the authors to conclude that EBV plays little role in the pathogenesis of cervical carcinoma in their population (79). Similarly, another study reported EBV positivity in 40/58% (69%) of cervical carcinoma samples by PCR while immunohistochemistry (LMP1 protein) revealed EBV positivity in only 26% of tested samples (n = 23) (80). In contrast, Szkaradkiewicz et al. reported a significantly higher detection rate of EBV positivity among CIN3 lesions by ISH (70%) in comparison with PCR-based assay (30%), but the sample size was small (n = 10) (68). Of note, many of the reported studies employed small number of cases (e.g., McCormick used 18 invasive carcinoma samples while Aromseree et al. used only four invasive carcinoma samples for ISH assay). On the other hand, commercially available immunohistochemical assays (e.g., antibodies against EBNA1 or LMP1 proteins) may be affected by the antibody specificity and sensitivity and preanalytical issues (tissue fixation and processing). In all detection assays, differences in sample preparation (cytology: cell block vs. cytospin, biopsy: small vs. surgical; frozen tissue vs. formalin-fixed tissue) and sampling technique (swab, spatula, or cytobrush) may also have a significant impact on the obtained results and may account for the reported discrepancies (12, 76, 81).

Interplay Between PD-L1 and EBV in Cervical Carcinoma and Other EBV-Related Malignancies

Recent breakthrough advances in cancer treatment are mainly due to the therapeutic effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors [such as anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1] that have revolutionized management of several cancers including non-small-cell lung carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, advanced urothelial carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, microsatellite instable (MSI-H) colorectal carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and classical HL (82–84). The interaction between PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1 enables cancer cells to escape T-cell-mediated cellular cytotoxicity by suppressing the function of T-lymphocytes. Numerous studies have described the mechanisms of PD-L1 activation in tumor cells (85). One of the mechanisms of PD-L1 upregulation may be via EBV in EBV-associated malignancies such as gastric carcinoma and classical HL (86, 87). Thus, in the case of EBV+ gastric carcinomas, EBNA1 may induce both constitutive and IFNγ-inducible PD-L1 expression in EBV (+) gastric carcinoma cells (Figure 1) (86). Compared with EBV (−) gastric cells, EBV (+) gastric cells showed significantly higher PD-L1 expression by activating the JAK2/STAT1/IRF-1 signaling pathway (86). On the other hand, activation of inhibitory PD-1/PD-L1 axis may allow for immune evasion of EBV-associated cancer cells (Figure 1) (88). In contrast, two separate studies on nasopharyngeal carcinoma revealed tumor cells’ PD-L1 expression in 44 and 64% of the cases, respectively, but PD-L1 status was not associated with EBV viral load (89, 90).

PD-L1 expression has been described in substantial proportion of cervical carcinomas (both squamous cell and adenocarcinomas) and precursor (CIN) lesions of the cervix (91–93). A study of Yang-Chun et al. (93) demonstrated a positive association between HPV and PD-L1 status in CIN lesions and invasive cervical carcinoma. The status of PD-L1 in LELC of cervix is unknown as no studies are available at present. The data on pulmonary LELC indicate PD-L1 expression in cancer cells and a favorable therapeutic response to a PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab (94, 95). Though by no means conclusive, the little available data presented in these studies provide speculative fuel to the notion that there might be an important interplay between immune checkpoint proteins and EBV in cervical and possibly other cancers. However, further studies are needed to precisely identify any interplay between EBV and PD-L1 in CIN lesions and cervical carcinomas.

Conclusion and Future Directions

Epstein–Barr virus infections play a prominent role in cancer initiation and progression in several human malignancies including several lymphomas (both B- and T-cell lineages) and carcinomas (nasopharyngeal and gastric). Current evidence suggests a possible causal relationship between EBV and cervical cancer pathogenesis. A commonly present coinfection of EBV and HPV in cervical cancer (such as oral cancer) also indicates a potential oncogenic interplay between the two viruses. More studies (both basic/experimental and clinical/observational with larger sample size) are necessary to elucidate the oncogenic relevance of the copresence and its clinical impact. The lack of basic studies on PD-L1 and EBV interplay in cervix also merits further research. Given the success of cervical cancer prevention through HPV vaccination and upcoming EBV vaccine, additional molecular and translational/clinical studies on EBV are necessary to allow for the further improvements in its prevention, particularly in developing countries that are affected by the highest rates of infections (HPV and EBV) and cervical cancer burden.

Author Contributions

SV and A-EM conceived the review. SV searched the literature. SV, FC, SA, and A-EM critically appraised the literature, wrote, and approved final version of the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.