title: Detection of Epstein-Barr viral DNA internal repeats in the nasopharyngeal mucosa of Chinese with IgA/EBV-specific antibodies.
abstract: Fifty-six South Chinese individuals exhibiting IgA antibodies to EBV for 18 months and presenting nasopharyngeal abnormalities were biopsied. Four nasopharyngeal carcinomas, two at a very early stage, were detected. In 14 further individuals, without clinical or histopathological evidence of tumor, EBV/DNA internal repeats and/or EBNA were detected in the biopsied mucosae. The presence of IgA/EBV antibodies and/or EBV markers in the nasopharyngeal mucosa may characterize pre-cancerous conditions.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000382:microbiology; D002681:China; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000382:microbiology; D009302:Nasopharyngeal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000382:microbiology; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes