OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of quantitative measurement of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in the clinical management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in a low tumour risk area (western Europe). METHODS: 22 consecutive Dutch NPC patients (11 europid) were studied. EBV DNA load in pretreatment and post-treatment plasma samples was determined. Three patients were also sampled at frequent intervals during treatment. RNA in situ hybridisation for the detection of EBV encoded RNAs (EBERs) was carried out on tumour biopsies of all cases. RESULTS: All patients with EBER positive NPC (20/22) showed a positive EBV DNA load in plasma at the time of diagnosis (median EBV DNA level, 4.1 log(10) copies/ml). Patients with EBER negative NPC had no detectable EBV DNA in plasma. After treatment, complete remission was achieved in all cases and concurrently EBV DNA in plasma became undetectable in all patients. In the three longitudinally evaluated cases, EBV DNA load gradually declined towards undetectable levels within three weeks after start of treatment. Two patients developed a distant metastasis with concomitant increases in EBV viral load. In addition, one EBER positive patient developed an EBER negative metastasis in the neck during follow up and in this case EBV DNA load remained undetectable at the time of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma EBV DNA load measurement appears to be useful in a low tumour risk area. However, development of local recurrences may not always coincide with raised levels of EBV DNA.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of quantitative measurement of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in the clinical management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in a low tumour risk area (western Europe). METHODS: 22 consecutive Dutch NPCpatients (11 europid) were studied. EBV DNA load in pretreatment and post-treatment plasma samples was determined. Three patients were also sampled at frequent intervals during treatment. RNA in situ hybridisation for the detection of EBV encoded RNAs (EBERs) was carried out on tumour biopsies of all cases. RESULTS: All patients with EBER positive NPC (20/22) showed a positive EBV DNA load in plasma at the time of diagnosis (median EBV DNA level, 4.1 log(10) copies/ml). Patients with EBER negative NPC had no detectable EBV DNA in plasma. After treatment, complete remission was achieved in all cases and concurrently EBV DNA in plasma became undetectable in all patients. In the three longitudinally evaluated cases, EBV DNA load gradually declined towards undetectable levels within three weeks after start of treatment. Two patients developed a distant metastasis with concomitant increases in EBV viral load. In addition, one EBER positive patient developed an EBER negative metastasis in the neck during follow up and in this case EBV DNA load remained undetectable at the time of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma EBV DNA load measurement appears to be useful in a low tumour risk area. However, development of local recurrences may not always coincide with raised levels of EBV DNA.
Authors: Y M Lo; S F Leung; L Y Chan; K W Lo; J Zhang; A T Chan; J C Lee; N M Hjelm; P J Johnson; D P Huang Journal: Ann N Y Acad Sci Date: 2000-04 Impact factor: 5.691
Authors: Y M Lo; L Y Chan; A T Chan; S F Leung; K W Lo; J Zhang; J C Lee; N M Hjelm; P J Johnson; D P Huang Journal: Cancer Res Date: 1999-11-01 Impact factor: 12.701
Authors: Anthony T C Chan; Y M Dennis Lo; Benny Zee; Lisa Y S Chan; Brigette B Y Ma; Sing-Fai Leung; Frankie Mo; Maria Lai; Stephen Ho; Dolly P Huang; Philip J Johnson Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2002-11-06 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: Nehla Mokni Baizig; Patrice Morand; Jean Marie Seigneurin; Hamouda Boussen; Asma Fourati; Said Gritli; Zeineb Oueslati; Slim Touati; Amor Gamoudi; Mansour Ben Abdallah; Michèle El May; Ahmed El May Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2011-07-30 Impact factor: 2.503