Scholarlink

Background <p>Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), gastric cancer (GC), and Burkitt lymphoma (BL), but its burden across Africa remains poorly characterized due to fragmented evidence. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the pooled prevalence of EBV in NPC, GC, and BL across Africa, stratified by cancer type, region, and detection method.</p> Methods <p>PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and African Journals Online were searched for studies published between January 2000 and March 2025 reporting EBV prevalence in histologically confirmed NPC, GC, or BL in African populations. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Pooled prevalence was estimated separately for each cancer type using a random-effects model (DerSimonian-Laird), with subgroup analyses by region and detection method. Publication bias was assessed using Begg’s and Egger’s tests.</p> Results <p>Twenty studies comprising 2,763 participants from 11 African countries were included. Pooled EBV prevalence was highest in BL 86.8% (95% CI: 82.2, 91.5) followed by, NPC 66.0% (95% CI: 65.8, 66.2), and lowest in GC 35.4% (95% CI: 19.9, 50.9), with substantial heterogeneity throughout (I² &gt;95%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Prevalence of NPC was highest in East Africa 81.8% (95% CI: 81.4, 81.7) and lowest in North Africa 50.0% (95% CI: 49.9, 50.1). The subgroup analysis of NPC by detection method, EBER-ISH yielded the highest pooled prevalence 80.4% (95% CI: 67.0, 93.3), compared with DNA PCR 60.3% (95% CI: 36.8, 83.8). No significant publication bias was detected for any cancer type (all <i>p</i> &gt; 0.05), and sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the pooled estimates.</p> Conclusions <p>EBV was frequently detected in Burkitt lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and gastric cancer among African populations included in this review. Prevalence estimates varied substantially according to cancer type, geographic region, and diagnostic method. The limited use of EBER-ISH, the current reference standard for confirming EBV involvement in tumor cells, represents an important evidence gap that should guide future research and diagnostic standardization efforts.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Burden of Epstein-Barr virus in gastric cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and Burkitt lymphoma in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月9日

查看全文
  • Saleamlak Sebsibe,
  • Sisay Desale,
  • Sisay Kassa,
  • Yabsira Asmare,
  • Yonas Erkihun,
  • Zewudu Mulatie,
  • Afewerk Habtamu,
  • Bruktawit Eshetu,
  • Emiyamrew Getnet,
  • Endashaw Belayhun,
  • Kalu Tsegaye,
  • Mahider Shimelis Feyisa,
  • Marye Wondimnew Tefera,
  • Mikiyas Shemelis Achame,
  • Rahel Birhanu Arage,
  • Mihret Tilahun

摘要

Background

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), gastric cancer (GC), and Burkitt lymphoma (BL), but its burden across Africa remains poorly characterized due to fragmented evidence. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the pooled prevalence of EBV in NPC, GC, and BL across Africa, stratified by cancer type, region, and detection method.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and African Journals Online were searched for studies published between January 2000 and March 2025 reporting EBV prevalence in histologically confirmed NPC, GC, or BL in African populations. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Pooled prevalence was estimated separately for each cancer type using a random-effects model (DerSimonian-Laird), with subgroup analyses by region and detection method. Publication bias was assessed using Begg’s and Egger’s tests.

Results

Twenty studies comprising 2,763 participants from 11 African countries were included. Pooled EBV prevalence was highest in BL 86.8% (95% CI: 82.2, 91.5) followed by, NPC 66.0% (95% CI: 65.8, 66.2), and lowest in GC 35.4% (95% CI: 19.9, 50.9), with substantial heterogeneity throughout (I² >95%, p < 0.001). Prevalence of NPC was highest in East Africa 81.8% (95% CI: 81.4, 81.7) and lowest in North Africa 50.0% (95% CI: 49.9, 50.1). The subgroup analysis of NPC by detection method, EBER-ISH yielded the highest pooled prevalence 80.4% (95% CI: 67.0, 93.3), compared with DNA PCR 60.3% (95% CI: 36.8, 83.8). No significant publication bias was detected for any cancer type (all p > 0.05), and sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the pooled estimates.

Conclusions

EBV was frequently detected in Burkitt lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and gastric cancer among African populations included in this review. Prevalence estimates varied substantially according to cancer type, geographic region, and diagnostic method. The limited use of EBER-ISH, the current reference standard for confirming EBV involvement in tumor cells, represents an important evidence gap that should guide future research and diagnostic standardization efforts.