Molecular prognostication of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by quantitative analysis of circulating Epstein-Barr virus DNA

Cancer Res. 2000 Dec 15;60(24):6878-81.

Abstract

We investigated the prognostic implication of pretreatment plasma/serum EBV DNA concentration, as measured by real-time quantitative PCR, in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In 91 prospectively recruited NPC patients, those with recurrence or metastasis within the first year after treatment had a higher median plasma EBV DNA concentration than those without events (41,756 copies/ml versus 5,807 copies/ml; P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney rank-sum test). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, plasma EBV DNA was an independent prognostic indicator for early clinical events [relative risk = 3.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.6-9.2 for each 10-fold increase in plasma EBV DNA concentration; P = 0.003)]. In a second cohort of 139 NPC patients followed-up for a median period of 2,027 days (interquartile range, 597-2,335 days), serum EBV DNA was found to be a significant variable associated with NPC-related death in multivariate Cox's regression analysis [relative risk = 1.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.1 for each 10-fold increase in serum EBV DNA concentration; P = 0.007)]. The quantitation of circulating EBV DNA may thus allow improved prognostication of NPC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma / blood
  • Carcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma / genetics*
  • Carcinoma / mortality
  • DNA / analysis*
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / blood
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prognosis
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • DNA