Analyses of the prognostic significance of the Epstein-Barr virus transactivator ZEBRA protein and diagnostic value of its two synthetic peptides in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Although numerous serological studies have determined the diagnostic and prognostic values of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies in adult patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), little data about the anti-EBV immune response in children with NPC is available.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the diagnostic value of IgG antibodies against BamHI Z Epstein-Barr replication activator (ZEBRA) protein and two related synthetic peptides (Zp125 and Zp130). To compare the prognostic value of IgA antibodies against early antigens (EA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA), and IgG antibodies against ZEBRA protein, of Moroccan children treated for NPC with their prognostic value for young and adult NPC patients.


METHODS
Sera were collected from 255 newly diagnosed Moroccan NPC patients and 226 healthy donors. IgA antibody against VCA and EA was measured by immunofluorescence assays. IgG antibody against ZEBRA, Zp125, and Zp130 was measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
No significant difference in the detection of IgG-Zp125 and Zp130 antibodies was observed in children with NPC. IgG-Zp130 were detected less frequently than IgG-Zp125 in young and adult patients, as compared to children. High specificity of IgG-Zp125 and -Zp130 antibodies was found in the three age groups. A decrease in IgG-ZEBRA was observed in patients with NPC in clinical remission, whereas patients with NPC who died or developed metastases maintained or had an increase in these titers.


CONCLUSIONS
IgG-ZEBRA is a better diagnostic and post-therapeutic prognostic marker in children with NPC, who showed very low titers of IgA -VCA and -EA.
Dardari
Rkia
R
Pasteur Institute of Morocco, 1, Rue Abou Kacem Ez-Zahraoui, 20 100 Casablanca, Morocco.
Menezes
José
J
Drouet
Emmanuel
E
Joab
Irene
I
Benider
Abdellatif
A
Bakkali
Hanae
H
Kanouni
Lamya
L
Jouhadi
Hassan
H
Benjaafar
Nourredine
N
El Gueddari
Brahim
B
Hassar
Mohammad
M
Khyatti
Meriem
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010455:Peptides; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins