PURPOSE: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been proven as an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cancer. Serum anti-EBV antibodies and plasma EBV DNA have been investigated as surrogate markers for NPC. A comparison of the prognostic impacts of both assays has never been reported. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Paired serum and plasma samples from 114 previously untreated NPC patients were collected and subjected to an immunofluorescence assay for immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG antibodies against the viral capsid antigen (VCA) and a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for EBV DNA measurement. The effects of both assays on patient prognosis were thoroughly investigated. RESULTS: Relapsed patients had significantly higher pretreatment EBV DNA concentration than patients without relapse (p = 0.0006). No associations of VCA-IgA (p = 0.9669) or VCA-IgG (p = 0.6125) were observed between patients with and without relapse. The 4-year overall survival (60.3% vs. 93.1%, p < 0.0001) and relapse-free survival rates (54.4% vs. 77.9%, p = 0.0009) were significantly lower in patients with higher pretreatment EBV DNA load than in those with lower EBV DNA load. Patients with persistently detectable EBV DNA after treatment had significantly worse 4-year overall (30.8% vs. 84.6%, p < 0.0001) and relapse-free survival rates (15.4% vs. 74.0%, p < 0.0001) than those with undetectable EBV DNA. The VCA-IgA and VCA-IgG titer could not predict survivals (all p > 0.1). Cox multivariate analyses also showed the same results. CONCLUSION: Plasma EBV DNA is superior to serum EBV VCA antibodies in prognostic predictions for NPC.
PURPOSE:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been proven as an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cancer. Serum anti-EBV antibodies and plasma EBV DNA have been investigated as surrogate markers for NPC. A comparison of the prognostic impacts of both assays has never been reported. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Paired serum and plasma samples from 114 previously untreated NPCpatients were collected and subjected to an immunofluorescence assay for immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG antibodies against the viral capsid antigen (VCA) and a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for EBV DNA measurement. The effects of both assays on patient prognosis were thoroughly investigated. RESULTS: Relapsed patients had significantly higher pretreatment EBV DNA concentration than patients without relapse (p = 0.0006). No associations of VCA-IgA (p = 0.9669) or VCA-IgG (p = 0.6125) were observed between patients with and without relapse. The 4-year overall survival (60.3% vs. 93.1%, p < 0.0001) and relapse-free survival rates (54.4% vs. 77.9%, p = 0.0009) were significantly lower in patients with higher pretreatment EBV DNA load than in those with lower EBV DNA load. Patients with persistently detectable EBV DNA after treatment had significantly worse 4-year overall (30.8% vs. 84.6%, p < 0.0001) and relapse-free survival rates (15.4% vs. 74.0%, p < 0.0001) than those with undetectable EBV DNA. The VCA-IgA and VCA-IgG titer could not predict survivals (all p > 0.1). Cox multivariate analyses also showed the same results. CONCLUSION: Plasma EBV DNA is superior to serum EBV VCA antibodies in prognostic predictions for NPC.
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
Authors: Kristina R Dahlstrom; Guojun Li; Caroline S Hussey; Jenny T Vo; Qingyi Wei; Chong Zhao; Erich M Sturgis Journal: Cancer Date: 2015-06-19 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: Aadel A Chaudhuri; Michael S Binkley; Evan C Osmundson; Ash A Alizadeh; Maximilian Diehn Journal: Semin Radiat Oncol Date: 2015-05-15 Impact factor: 5.934