Epstein Barr virus genome in nasopharyngeal carcinomas from New Zealand.
BACKGROUND
The population in New Zealand is a heterogeneous mix of Caucasians (80%), Maori (9%), and Polynesians (10%). It is believed that the Polynesians are of Chinese descent and may harbor the same high incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In addition, it is not known whether the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is as closely associated with the development of NPC in Polynesians as it is in those of Chinese origin.


METHODS
This study reexamines the associative correlation between EBV and NPC with two methods of genetic detection, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in-situ hybridization (ISH). In addition, geographic heterogeneity was analyzed to determine whether there are differences in the prevalence of EBV in NPCs among the ethnic mixed populations found in New Zealand. Nasopharyngeal biopsy specimens from 20 patients with NPC and 36 controls were obtained from Auckland.


RESULTS
With PCR, EBNA-1, a genomic sequence of EBV in NPC samples was able to be detected with 76.5% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity. By use of ISH, EBV was detected in NPC tissue with 82.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
There seems to be no geoanthropologic differences in terms of the association of EBV with NPC.
Popat
S R
SR
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Liavaag
P G
PG
Morton
R
R
McIvor
N
N
Irish
J C
JC
Freeman
J L
JL
D044466:Asian People; D001706:Biopsy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D009520:New Zealand; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011114:Polynesia / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D044465:White People
C402640:EBNA-LP protein, Human herpesvirus 4; D014764:Viral Proteins