Levels of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA prior and subsequent to treatment predicts the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Fei‑Peng Zhao
    • Xiong Liu
    • Xiao‑Mei Chen
    • Juan Lu
    • Bo‑Long Yu
    • Wen‑Dong Tian
    • Lu Wang
    • Xia Xu
    • Hao‑Ran Huang
    • Meng‑Wen Zhang
    • Gang Li
    • Xiang‑Ping Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 24, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.3628
  • Pages: 2888-2894
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Abstract

The level of Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV-DNA) in the plasma prior and subsequent to treatment is a reliable biomarker for the screening, diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The present retrospective study aimed to determine whether pre‑ and post‑treatment levels of plasma EBV‑DNA were predictive of survival in a large sample of patients with NPC. The level of plasma EBV‑DNA in 637 NPC patients prior and subsequent to treatment was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The value of pre‑ and post‑treatment plasma EBV‑DNA in predicting the survival of NPC patients was then analyzed. The results revealed that pre‑treatment plasma EBV‑DNA loads were significantly higher in patients with NPC than those in healthy controls (P<0.001). The percentage of patients with positive plasma EBV‑DNA was markedly higher prior to treatment (70.64%; median, 1150 copies/ml; range, 0‑9.75x106 copies/ml) than following treatment (25.99%; median, 0 copies/ml; range, 0‑3.83x106 copies/ml) (P<0.001). Patients with a high plasma EBV‑DNA load presented with a higher clinical tumor classification, lymph node status, metastatic status and overall cancer stage. The risk of NPC relapse and mortality was higher in patients with pre‑treatment plasma EBV‑DNA levels of ≥1,500 copies/ml than that in patients with <1,500 copies/ml. Furthermore, the risk of relapse and mortality was higher in patients with positive post‑treatment plasma EBV‑DNA than in patients with negative post‑treatment plasma EBV‑DNA. Detectable post‑treatment plasma EBV‑DNA was the most significant prognostic factor to affect relapse‑free survival, whilst metastasis was the prognostic factor with the greatest effect on overall survival. These data indicated that pre‑ and post‑treatment levels of plasma EBV‑DNA were able to predict the prognosis of NPC. This finding may provide novel references for research and clinical practice.
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November-2015
Volume 10 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Zhao FP, Liu X, Chen XM, Lu J, Yu BL, Tian WD, Wang L, Xu X, Huang HR, Zhang MW, Zhang MW, et al: Levels of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA prior and subsequent to treatment predicts the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Oncol Lett 10: 2888-2894, 2015
APA
Zhao, F., Liu, X., Chen, X., Lu, J., Yu, B., Tian, W. ... Li, X. (2015). Levels of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA prior and subsequent to treatment predicts the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Oncology Letters, 10, 2888-2894. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.3628
MLA
Zhao, F., Liu, X., Chen, X., Lu, J., Yu, B., Tian, W., Wang, L., Xu, X., Huang, H., Zhang, M., Li, G., Li, X."Levels of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA prior and subsequent to treatment predicts the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma". Oncology Letters 10.5 (2015): 2888-2894.
Chicago
Zhao, F., Liu, X., Chen, X., Lu, J., Yu, B., Tian, W., Wang, L., Xu, X., Huang, H., Zhang, M., Li, G., Li, X."Levels of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA prior and subsequent to treatment predicts the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma". Oncology Letters 10, no. 5 (2015): 2888-2894. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.3628