Epstein-Barr-virus-specific IgA and IgG serum antibodies in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Summary.-The sera of 73 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), 28 patients with other carcinomas (OC) and 89 healthy subjects (HS) were tested for IgG and IgA antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral capsid antigen (VCA). The majority of the NPC sera had IgG titres of 160 or above, whereas the majority of the other sera had titres below 160. For IgA reactivity to EBV-VCA,68 of 73 (93*2%) NPC sera had titres of > 10. In contrast, only 6 of 28 (21-4%) OC sera and none of the HS sera had such titres. The mean serum concentrations of IgG, IgA, IgM and C3' were also determined in 55 NPC and 20 OC patients and 18 HS. They were all significantly higher in the NPC sera than in the HS. Although the concentrations of IgG and C3' were not significantly different in the two carcinoma groups, the concentrations of IgA and IgM were significantly higher in the NPC group than in OC. These findings appear to reflect the intensity of EBV-specific antigenic stimulation in NPC, and the EBV-specific serum IgA reactivity may be a useful aid to the diagnosis of NPC, especially in cases with an occult primary tumour. It may be also of value as a screening test in people at high risk.

ABO Blood Group, Epstein-Barr virus Infection and Prognosis of Patients with Non-metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

“…NPC in the epidemic area is special because of its strong association with EBV and sustain higher levels of serum EBV-specific antibodies, especially isotypes of immunoglobulin A (IgA) (Henle et al, 1976;Ho et al, 1976;Han et al, 2012). Previous studies have shown that VcA-IgA and EA-IgA were particularly elevated in NPC patients (Sam et al, 1989;Low et al, 2000;Cheng et al, 2002;Tiwawech et al, 2003) and might provide information regarding the prognosis (Cai et al, 2013).…”

Factors affecting serum IgA antibody to Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigens in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

“…Serum IgA concentration was found to be significantly higher in NPC patients than in control subjects (Wara et al, 1975;Ho et al, 1976). Henle and Henle (1976) reported that NPC patients have high titres of IgA antibody against viral capsid antigen (VCA) (Henle and Henle, 1966) and early antigens (EA) (Henle et al, 1970).…”

IgA antibodies to Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigens in saliva of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

“…THE majority of sera from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients studied to date was shown to have a titre of IgA antibodies to the Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen (VCA) of 1/10, while the same reactivity was seldom detectable in the sera of controls consisting of patients with other cancers and healthy subjects (Henle and Henle, 1976;Ho et al, 1976 and in preparation). In all these sera, the detection of IgA reactivity to VCA was concomitant with high titres of IgG antibodies to VCA.…”