Given that the BCL2L11 repressors EBNA3A and EBNA3C are expressed initially in growth-transformed B cells, but not in BL cells (which express only EBNA1), BCL2L11 repression is likely an early event that prevents apoptosis driven by the initial activation of MYC by EBNA2. This evidence concerns the gene BCL2L11 and Burkitt lymphoma.