title: [Prognostic significance of serum anti-Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed to investigate the association between serum against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies levels and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients' prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples from 140 primary NPC patients without metastasis were collected before and after treatment. The titers of VCA/IgA and EA/IgA were detected by immunoenzyme assay, and the levels of NA1/IgA and Rta/IgG were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All patients received consequent follow-up and long-term efficacy and survival assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-treatment serum levels of VCA/IgA, EA/IgA, NA1/IgA and Rta/IgG in NPC patients significantly decreased than those before treatment, while had significantly higher than those in control individuals (P < 0.05). Patients in remission had significantly lower pre-treatment serum levels of VCA/IgA and EA/IgA than patients with progression (P < 0.05). None of serum levels of VCA/IgA, EA/IgA, NA1/IgA and Rta/IgG was associated with the 3-year overall survival (P > 0.05). The progression-free survivals were significantly lower in patients with higher pre-treatment VCA/IgA (> or = 1 : 320) and EA/IgA (> or = 1:80) levels than in those with lower VCA/IgA ( < 1 : 320) and EA/IgA (< 1 : 80) levels, respectively (61.8% vs. 86.5% , 61.3% vs. 86.5%, P < 0.001). Cox regression model analysis demonstrated that pre-treatment serum VCA/IgA level was an independent risk factor for progression-free survival (HR = 3.80, P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-EBV VCA/IgA and EA/IgA might provide information regarding the prognosis of NPC patients.
authors.affiliation: Wuzhou Health System Key Laboratory for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Etiology and Molecular Mechanism, Guangxi 543002, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ai-Ying
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wei-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jian-Quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Wan-Sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Min-Zhong
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D002277:Carcinoma; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; C041788:Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen; D007070:Immunoglobulin A