title: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody in patients treated by radical radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
abstract: Antibody against Epstein Barr Viral capsid (EBV-VCA) was measured in 65 patients with primary head and neck cancer referred for radical radiotherapy. Sixty-three percent had locally advanced cancer and 37% had early disease. Forty-eight percent had detectable antibody in their sera. Thirty-three percent had elevated titers (above 1:20 dilution). Only 19% of cases with early cancer had increased titers. Almost 50% of those with locally advanced cancer or recurrence following treatment had titers above 1:20. A rise in titer within six months following radiotherapy was associated with a significant incidence of recurrence. There was no correlation between delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction to 2--4 dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and titer values. EBV-VCA may be an additional parameter which can be used to determine host defenses in patients with malignancies.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene