title: Specific IgA antibody to Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen: a better marker for screening nasopharyngeal carcinoma than EBV-DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. To assess whether EBV DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or presence of specific serum antibody to viral capsid antigen (VCA) was a better marker for screening NPC, nasopharyngeal tissues and blood samples from 58 NPC patients and 24 non-NPC patients (23 with laryngotracheal stenosis and 1 with chronic tonsillitis) were tested for the presence of EBV DNA and serum specific VCA antibodies, respectively. EBV DNA was detected in 56 (96.5%) of NPC patients and 15 (62.5%) of non-NPC controls, with predominantly EBV type A in both groups. On the other hand, specific VCA IgA antibody was detected in the majority of NPC patients: 52 (89.7%) while only 4 (16.7%) were detected in non-NPC controls. Therefore, specific VCA IgA antibody may serve as a better marker for screening NPC than EBV DNA detected by PCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kantakamalakul
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chongkolwatana
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naksawat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muangsomboon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sukpanichnant
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chongvisal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metheetrairat
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kositanont
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puthavathana
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen; D007070:Immunoglobulin A