Association of the Epstein-Barr virus with breast cancer: in vivo and in vitro studies

Latently EBV infected breast undifferentiated human epithelial cell line, MDA-MB-231, was obtained and injected into nude mice. Tumors were obtained in which EBV persists. The persistence of EBV in nude mice tumors, in the absence of any selection, suggests that mammary epithelial cells could be a natural host for EBV. These models will be used for the elaboration of specific therapeutic targets. Normal breast mammary epithelial cells are now being infected by EBV in order to investigate the oncogenic potential of EBV in those epithelial cells.