Effects of chemical inducers on the Epstein-Barr virus cycle in epithelial/nasopharyngeal carcinoma hybrid cell line.

We have studied the induction of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific antigens in nasopharyngeal carcinoma hybrid cells by treatment with the tumor promotor 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and n-butyric acid. The intensity of EBV induction by these drugs was in the order of n-butyric acid----TPA----H2O2. Furthermore, the combination of H2O2 or TPA and n-butyric acid acted synergistically on EBV-induced antigens.