Epstein-Barr virus associated tumors and drug repurposing

A new study published in OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology identified differentially expressed host and viral microRNAs (miRNAs) in six Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated tumors. The study reports several drug candidates for repurposing and targeting EBV latent infection: Glyburide, Levodopa, Nateglinide, and Stiripentol, among others.

The authors, Anamika Thakur and Manoj Kumar, Ph.D., from the Institute of Microbial Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Chandigarh, India, note: "This is the first integrative analysis, to the best of our knowledge, in regard to the potential therapeutic targets and drug repurposing candidates against the EBV tumors." EBV is associated with several types of malignancies, such as gastric carcinoma, Burkitt lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"Epstein-Barr virus is a major planetary health burden especially in the oncology clinic. The study makes a contribution toward antiviral drug innovation for treatment of EBV infection and prevention of EBV-related tumors," says Vural Özdemir, MD, Ph.D., DABCP, Editor-in-Chief of OMICS.