title: Proper use of serum antibody titres against Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: IgA/virus capsid antigen for diagnosis and EBV-related nuclear antigen-2 for follow-up.
abstract: Sera from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) show high titres of IgA antibodies to Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen (IgA/VCA). We reported previously that the serum titres for Epstein-Barr virus-related nuclear antigen-2 (EBNA2) correlated with NPC patients' prognosis. To investigate which is better for diagnosing NPC and predicting patient prognosis, the titration of serum IgA/VCA or EBNA2, we examined the same serum titres. Sixteen cases of NPC in which serum EBNA2 antibody titres had been tested, were investigated for the serum IgA/VCA antibody titres before and after radiation treatment. All NPC cases showed positive reactions with indirect immunofluorescence staining, and the median titre was 252. Twelve normal controls, 5 mesopharyngeal carcinoma patients, 4 hypopharyngeal carcinoma patients, 4 laryngeal carcinoma patients and 6 malignant lymphoma were also examined, but they showed negative or relatively low titres. A follow-up study revealed that IgA/VCA titres remained mostly stable. These results indicate a close relationship between IgA/VCA and NPC, however, prognosis correlated better with EBNA2 titres than with IgA/VCA titres.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute, Osaka National Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimakage
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dezawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chatani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A