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Intralesional EBV-DNA load as marker of prognosis for nasopharyngeal cancer

Nilsson, Johan S. LU ; Forslund, Ola LU ; Andersson, Fredrik C. ; Lindstedt, Malin LU and Greiff, Lennart LU (2019) In Scientific Reports 9.
Abstract

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The clinical presentation and prognosis of NPC is well described, but not in relation to intralesional EBV-DNA load. In a retrospective design, 48 patients with NPC were examined. Patient history was re-evaluated, and diagnostic biopsies were re-examined. Furthermore, intralesional EBV-DNA was quantitated and HPV status determined. Cancer stage, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Of the 48 patients, 36 (75%) patients featured lesions that were positive for EBER (Epstein–Barr virus-encoded small RNA) and 40 (83%) were positive for EBV-DNA. Seven patients (15%) were HPV positive. The levels of EBV-DNA ranged from 0.0005 to 94617... (More)

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The clinical presentation and prognosis of NPC is well described, but not in relation to intralesional EBV-DNA load. In a retrospective design, 48 patients with NPC were examined. Patient history was re-evaluated, and diagnostic biopsies were re-examined. Furthermore, intralesional EBV-DNA was quantitated and HPV status determined. Cancer stage, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Of the 48 patients, 36 (75%) patients featured lesions that were positive for EBER (Epstein–Barr virus-encoded small RNA) and 40 (83%) were positive for EBV-DNA. Seven patients (15%) were HPV positive. The levels of EBV-DNA ranged from 0.0005 to 94617 copies/cell. An EBV-DNA load of more than 70 copies/cell was associated with a prolonged DFS for EBV-DNA positive patients treated with curative intent (p = 0.046). In conclusion, the EBV-DNA load in NPC lesions appears to vary greatly. For patients with EBV-DNA positive NPC treated with curative intent, an EBV-DNA load of more than 70 copies/cell is associated with a better outcome in terms of 7-year DFS.

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organization
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scientific Reports
volume
9
article number
15432
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:31659192
  • scopus:85074226498
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-019-51767-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e164b752-d26f-4506-928f-349699b66679
date added to LUP
2019-11-13 13:02:47
date last changed
2024-05-30 06:21:10
@article{e164b752-d26f-4506-928f-349699b66679,
  abstract     = {{<p>Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The clinical presentation and prognosis of NPC is well described, but not in relation to intralesional EBV-DNA load. In a retrospective design, 48 patients with NPC were examined. Patient history was re-evaluated, and diagnostic biopsies were re-examined. Furthermore, intralesional EBV-DNA was quantitated and HPV status determined. Cancer stage, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Of the 48 patients, 36 (75%) patients featured lesions that were positive for EBER (Epstein–Barr virus-encoded small RNA) and 40 (83%) were positive for EBV-DNA. Seven patients (15%) were HPV positive. The levels of EBV-DNA ranged from 0.0005 to 94617 copies/cell. An EBV-DNA load of more than 70 copies/cell was associated with a prolonged DFS for EBV-DNA positive patients treated with curative intent (p = 0.046). In conclusion, the EBV-DNA load in NPC lesions appears to vary greatly. For patients with EBV-DNA positive NPC treated with curative intent, an EBV-DNA load of more than 70 copies/cell is associated with a better outcome in terms of 7-year DFS.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Johan S. and Forslund, Ola and Andersson, Fredrik C. and Lindstedt, Malin and Greiff, Lennart}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Intralesional EBV-DNA load as marker of prognosis for nasopharyngeal cancer}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-51767-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-019-51767-9}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}