Building a Bridge Between the Mechanism of EBV Reactivation and the Treatment of EBV‐Associated Cancers

ABSTRACT Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection is closely associated with the development of various tumors such as lymphomas and epithelial cancers. EBV has a discrete life cycle with latency and lytic phases. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanism underlying the transition of EBV from latency to lytic replication. Multiple new lytic activation factors have been emerged and promoted our understanding of this field. In addition, we have comprehensively presented the existing therapeutic strategies and their relationship to the mechanism underlying the transition of EBV from latency to lytic replication in this review, such as lytic induction therapy and drugs to prevent EBV from entering the lytic phase fully utilize the EBV reactivation mechanisms. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the discovery of EBV, and building a bridge between the mechanism of EBV reactivation and the treatment may help us to design new approaches for treating EBV‐associated diseases.