Skip NavigationSkip to Content
Return Return to Search Results

Distribution of Epstein-Barr viral load in serum of individuals from nasopharyngeal carcinoma high-risk families in Taiwan

  1. Author:
    Yang, X. H. R.
    Goldstein, A. M.
    Chen, C. J.
    Rabkin, C. S.
    Chen, J. Y.
    Cheng, Y. J.
    Hsu, W. L.
    Sun, B.
    Diehl, S. R.
    Liu, M. Y.
    Walters, M.
    Shao, W.
    Ortiz-Conde, B. A.
    Whitby, D.
    Elmore, S. H.
    Gulley, M. L.
    Hildesheim, A.

  2. Author Address

    NCI, DCEG, Genet Epidemiol Branch, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852 USA. Natl Taiwan Univ, Coll Publ Hlth, Grad Inst Epidemiol, Taipei 10764, Taiwan. Natl Taiwan Univ, Coll Med, Dept Microbiol, Taipei 10764, Taiwan. Westat Corp, Rockville, MD USA. Natl Inst Dent & Craniofacial Res, Craniofacial Epidemiol & Genet Branch, NIH, Bethesda, MD USA. NCI, Sci Applicat Int Corp, Frederick, MD 21701 USA. Univ N Carolina, Dept Pathol & Lab Med, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA. Univ N Carolina, Lineberger Comprehens Canc Ctr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA Yang, XHR, NCI, DCEG, Genet Epidemiol Branch, NIH, Rm 7014,6120 Execut Blvd, Rockville, MD 20852 USA
    1. Year: 2006
    2. Date: MAR 1
  2. Journal: International Journal of Cancer
    1. 118
    2. 3
    3. Pages: 780-784
  4. Type of Article: Article
  1. Abstract:

    The utility of EBV load as a tumor marker in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients suggests that it might also serve as a screening test for individuals who are at high risk for developing NPC. We previously demonstrated that unaffected individuals from high-risk families had elevated anti-EBV antibody levels compared to community controls. In this study, we measured EBV load using 2 different real-time PCR assays (targeting BamH1W and polymerase gene sequences, respectively) carried out in 2 independent research labs in serum samples from 19 untreated NPC cases, 11 healthy community controls and 100 unaffected individuals from families in which 2 or more individuals were affected with NPC. EBV genomes were detectable in 68% of NPC cases by the EBV BamH1W assay and in 74% by the EBV polymerase assay (kappa = 0.64). Patients with stage III or IV disease had significantly higher EBV load compared to those with stage I or II disease (p = 0.008). EBV DNA was detected in a single community control sample by the EBV BamH1W assay and in none of the samples by the EBV polymerase assay. Only one of 100 unaffected family members tested positive by both assays. An additional 14 were positive by only one of the 2 EBV load assays used and usually in only one of the duplicate wells tested, all with very low viral loads (3-50 copies/ml). In addition, EBV load did not correlate with EBV serology results (anti-VCA, anti-DNase, anti-EBNA-1) among these unaffected family members. In conclusion, our study suggests limited clinical utility of the EBV load test, in its current configuration, to screen individuals from high-risk families. Should a more sensitive or specific molecular assay be developed that is capable of detecting and distinguishing tumor-derived EBV genomes or gene products from true negatives, it could be evaluated as a possible screening tool for asymptomatic and early-stage NPC. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc

    See More

  1. Keywords:

External Sources

  1. View record in Web of Science®
  2. WOS: 000234443900035

Library Notes

  1. No notes added.
NCI at Frederick

You are leaving a government website.

This external link provides additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of this site. The government cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal site.

Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by this institution or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site. You will be subject to the destination site's privacy policy when you follow the link.

ContinueCancel