Genotypic Characterization of Epstein Barr Virus in Blood of Patients with Suspected Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Ghana

Souza

et al. 2021

Med Microbiol Immunol

EBV-associated gastric cancer accounts for about 10% of all gastric carcinomas worldwide. We aimed to verify the prevalence of EBV in gastric adenocarcinoma samples using FISH and qPCR and comparing the results obtained by both techniques. Gastric cancer samples from 191 cases were analyzed. The FISH assay was performed to detect small EBV RNAs (EBER1) and qPCR was performed to detect the EBV-EBNA-1 gene region. Cohen’s kappa index and the chi-square test were used to compare the methodologies and investigate correlations with the clinical-pathological data of the gastric adenocarcinoma patients. Most of the patients were men, and the average age was 60 years. The intestinal subtype cancer presented more aggressive stages with 90% of patients having a reactive FISH for EBV (EBV+), although the virus infection frequency in epithelial gastric tissue was only 1%. No positive association with clinicopathological features and EBV+ was found by FISH. Using qPCR analysis, the percentage of positive samples was lower (52.4%), and a positive association was found in samples from older patients (> 60 years). Interestingly, 71 qPCR-negative cases were detected by FISH in the presence of non-epithelial cells and in 10 qPCR-positive cases with no evidence of EBV according to FISH. The concordance between the two techniques was low, with only 57.6%. FISH is more informative for associating the gastric carcinoma with EBV positivity in tumor/epithelial cells; however, qPCR can provide relevant information regarding the progression and characteristics of neoplasia.

“…1 ); however, no association was found. Other works have been successful in demonstrating the association between EBV viral load and disease severity [ 36 , 37 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in gastric adenocarcinoma: qPCR and FISH comparison

Souza

et al. 2021

Med Microbiol Immunol

“…EBV is associated with various cancers of epithelial or hematopoietic cell origin worldwide. In Africa, the virus has been associated with endemic Burkitt’s lymphoma and other cancers such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma [ 69 ].…”

Section: Correlating the Prevalence Of Tropical Pathogens And Cancer Prevalencementioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogen-Induced Epigenetic Modifications in Cancers: Implications for Prevention, Detection and Treatment of Cancers in Africa

Zune

Olwal

Tapela

et al. 2021

Cancers

Cancer is a major public health burden worldwide. Tumor formation is caused by multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Many reports have demonstrated a positive correlation between the burden of infectious pathogens and the occurrence of cancers. However, the mechanistic link between pathogens and cancer development remains largely unclear and is subject to active investigations. Apart from somatic mutations that have been widely linked with various cancers, an appreciable body of knowledge points to alterations of host epigenetic patterns as key triggers for cancer development. Several studies have associated various infectious pathogens with epigenetic modifications. It is therefore plausible to assume that pathogens induce carcinogenesis via alteration of normal host epigenetic patterns. Thus, Africa with its disproportionate burden of infectious pathogens is threatened by a dramatic increase in pathogen-mediated cancers. To curb the potential upsurge of such cancers, a better understanding of the role of tropical pathogens in cancer epigenetics could substantially provide resources to improve cancer management among Africans. Therefore, this review discusses cancer epigenetic studies in Africa and the link between tropical pathogens and cancer burden. In addition, we discuss the potential mechanisms by which pathogens induce cancers and the opportunities and challenges of tropical pathogen-induced epigenetic changes for cancer prevention, detection and management.

“…For example, EBV genes were detected in the majority of tissue samples from Sudanese patients with NPC [ 10 ]. Ayee et al [ 11 ] analysed the association of EBV infection in patients diagnosed with NPC in Ghana. The EBV load was significantly higher in NPC patients than in controls; thus, its assessment can be used as a biological marker for the diagnosis of NPC.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epstein–Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 is useful as therapeutic efficacy marker in serum but not in saliva of nasopharyngeal cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy

Midoen¹,

Suryandari²,

Yunaini³

et al. 2021

ecancer

Introduction: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a multifactorial disease with genetic, viral, environmental and lifestyle-related risk factors. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can promote the oncogenic transformation of an infected cell into malignant. EBV encodes many stimulating products including Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) which plays a key role in the regulation of gene expression and replication of the genome in the latent period of infection. EBNA-1 in serum and tumour tissue of NPC patients correlates with NPC prognosis. Moreover, the presence of EBV DNA in serum samples from NPC patients' blood circulation can be used as an early marker in the diagnosis of NPC. Objective:The objective of this study was to find effective methods for monitoring the progress of NPC patients undergoing radiotherapy and therapeutic efficacy by observing the changes in EBV DNA in serum and saliva. Methodology:The pre-experimental design compared blood and saliva taken from a pretest and post-test group of NPC patients before and after radiation therapy. The concentration of EBV DNA was measured in the serum and saliva after amplification using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) with compatible primers for the EBNA-1 gene. The data were statistically analysed by paired T-test.Results: Highly significant (p = 0.0001) increase in cycle threshold qPCR and decrease in the mean concentration of EBV DNA (p = 0.0001) were observed in serum samples, but no significant changes were observed in saliva. Conclusions:The results suggest that EBV DNA in serum can be used as the gold standard and a marker for monitoring the response to radiation therapy in NPC patients, whereas the examination of EBV DNA from saliva samples is not accurate and thus, not appropriate.