The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is a gamma-herpesvirus involved with a variety of human cancers, notably the endemic Burkitt lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In 2004, EBV was described as the first known human oncovirus to encode viral microRNAs (miRNAs), and these molecules were found to interact with viral and host targets. EBV miRNAs modulate biological processes that are critical for carcinogenesis, contributing to cell transformation and tumor progression of EBV-associated cancers. Herein we review and discuss EBV miRNAs as modulators of viral biology and carcinogenesis, as well as their usefulness as putative markers to monitor the onset, progression, and recurrence of cancers associated with the EBV infection.

爱泼斯坦-巴尔病毒（EBV）是一种伽马疱疹病毒，与多种人类癌症有关，特别是地方性伯基特淋巴瘤和鼻咽癌。2004年，EBV被描述为第一个已知的编码病毒microRNA（miRNA）的人类癌病毒，并且发现这些分子与病毒和宿主靶标相互作用。EBV miRNA调节对于癌变至关重要的生物学过程，有助于与EBV相关的癌症的细胞转化和肿瘤进展。在这里，我们审查和讨论EBV miRNAs作为病毒生物学和致癌性的调节剂，以及它们作为可能的标志物来监测与EBV感染相关的癌症的发生，发展和复发的作用。