title: Molecular diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: detecting LMP-1 and EBNA by nasopharyngeal swab.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of molecular diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by combining nasopharyngeal swab and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) derived latent membrane protein-1 gene (LMP-1) and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen gene (EBNA).
  
  
  METHODS
  437 adults underwent nasopharyngoscopy, possible biopsy, and nasopharyngeal swab to obtain nasopharyngeal cells for the detection of LMP-1 and EBNA by PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By detecting LMP-1 and EBNA in the nasopharyngeal swabs, NPC could be diagnosed with a false-positive rate of 1.7% (6/354), a false-negative rate of 8.6% (6/70), a sensitivity of 91.4% (64/70), a specificity of 98.3% (348/354), positive predictive value of 91.4% (64/70), and negative predictive value of 98.3% (348/354).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detecting EBV genomic LMP-1 and EBNA by nasopharyngeal swab verifies NPC with a sensitivity of 91.4% and specificity of 98.3%. The nasopharyngeal swab coupled with PCR based EBV LMP-1 and EBNA detection could serve as a good supplement to pathological diagnosis of NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. shengpo@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Sheng-Po
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Ngan-Ming
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Kai-Ping
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shir-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ueng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C417029:EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1