Indeed, we were able to distinguish latency IIb cells from LCLs expressing low levels of LMP1 using multiplex RNA-fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA-FISH) targeting EBV EBNA2 or LMP1 and human CCR7 or MGST1. This report defines latency IIb as a bona fide latency state independent from latency III and identifies biomarkers for understanding EBV-associated tumor heterogeneity. Here, PDLIM7 is linked to neoplasm.