Plasma Epstein-Barr Viral Deoxyribonucleic Acid Quantitation Complements Tumor-Node-Metastasis Staging Prognostication in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

Pretherapy circulating EBV DNA load is an independent prognostic factor to International Union Against Cancer (UICC) staging in NPC. Combined interpretation of EBV DNA data with UICC staging data leads to alteration of risk definition of patient subsets, with improved risk discrimination in early-stage disease. Validation studies are awaited.

Circulating Epstein–Barr virus microRNAs miR‐BART7 and miR‐BART13 as biomarkers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis and treatment

“…[19][20][21] Subsequent studies have been conducted to characterize the potential clinical applications of circulating EBV DNA in plasma for early detection and prognostic assessment of NPC. [22][23][24][25][26] It was reported that the circulating EBV DNA load can be used as an independent prognostic factor to UICC staging in NPC, while combining EBV DNA data with UICC staging data leads to alteration of the risk definitions for patient subsets. 24 However, no standardized EBV DNA test is currently available for clinical diagnosis of NPC.…”

“…[22][23][24][25][26] It was reported that the circulating EBV DNA load can be used as an independent prognostic factor to UICC staging in NPC, while combining EBV DNA data with UICC staging data leads to alteration of the risk definitions for patient subsets. 24 However, no standardized EBV DNA test is currently available for clinical diagnosis of NPC. The EBV DNA marker was reported to be detectable at variable levels in patients with NPC at diagnosis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) methods.…”

Plasma Epstein‐Barr virus DNA screening followed by 18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose positron emission tomography in detecting posttreatment failures of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

“…[10][11][12][13] Another important advance in NPC is the quantification of plasma EBV DNA with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (rt-qPCR), which reportedly is a useful tool for the detection, monitoring, and prognostic prediction in NPC. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] However, the combined use of both new modalities for detecting recurrent NPC is not yet well defined. Thus, we investigated the diagnostic value and clinical impact of both a plasma EBV DNA assay and 18 F-FDG PET for the detection of recurrent NPC.…”

Aurora‐A activation, correlated with hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α, promotes radiochemoresistance and predicts poor outcome for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

“…(3) However, the TNM staging system has limited power in determining outcomes for individual patients. (4) Supported by recently developed prognostic biomarkers, such as EBV DNA, (5)(6)(7) EBV DNase-specific neutralizing antibody, (8) epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), (9,10) and Beclin 1, (11) the patient risk definition was refined more accurately. For stage II patients, the 5-year survival rates for EBV DNA high and low subgroups were 90% and 63%, respectively, leading to an altered risk definition for early stage subgroups.…”

“…For stage II patients, the 5-year survival rates for EBV DNA high and low subgroups were 90% and 63%, respectively, leading to an altered risk definition for early stage subgroups. (5) Epidermal growth factor receptor was overexpressed in 90% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), (9) and predicted an inferior patient outcome. (12) More importantly, EGFR mAbs cetuximab and nimotuzumab significantly improve overall survival (OS) in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy for locally advanced NPC and other type of HNSCC.…”