• 11/1/2004
  • Birmingham, England
  • Emma Brady
  • The Birmingham Post

A common virus that causes glandular fever may contain clues to what causes some cancers, researchers have found. Scientists at Birmingham University believe the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which millions of people carry without knowing, can be manipulated to treat tumours more effectively. The study also revealed that a non-prescription painkiller can block the development of some cancers.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma, gastric and nasal cancer are among the types which researchers have found can be treated preventatively after discovering how EBV triggers cancerous growths.

The virus was discovered 40 years ago and occurs worldwide, infecting most people early in life. EBV can then remain a dormant infection in some cells of the body’s immune system, usually without causing any harm.

Professor Lawrence Young, head of cancer studies, said: “This study helps us to under-stand how the virus contributes to the development of cancer in people with EBV.

“It gives us a possible new way of treating these cancers.

“These findings will also be relevant to how we develop new therapies for other types of head and neck cancer.

“EBV is one of the most common virus infections, it causes glandular fever, but that doesn’t mean anyone who has had glandular fever will develop cancer.”

In the 1960s the mortality rate for heart transplant patients was very high, but Prof Young said this is not due to the organ being rejected.

“In those cases, the heart was rejected but because their immune system was low and they developed EBV infected tumors,” he explained.

“The virus has also been linked to chronic fatigue syndrome or ME.

“It is most likely to strike when our immune system is suppressed, for example in HIV cases or in transplant cases.

“Such incidents can reactivate the EBV virus and lead to EBV tumours growing.”

The team, which collaborated with scientists in Hokkaido University, Japan and Louisiana University in the US, found the virus can act as a trigger.

They also found that the use of aspirin could prevent the onset of cancer.

Prof Young added: “We have found that this pathway to several cancers can be blocked by aspirin – there’s evidence to suggest EBV infections can be tackled by the drug.