Cells expressing the highest levels of LMP-1 and NF-κB (EBV-transformed B cells) were most susceptible to simvastatin-induced cell death; one cell line (Mutu-3 Burkitt lymphoma cells) expressing lower, but detectable levels of LMP-1 and NF-κB showed an intermediate sensitivity to death by simvastatin. This evidence concerns the gene NFKB1 and Burkitt lymphoma.