title: Serologic investigation of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma and simian virus 40 infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is well established. Nevertheless, available evidence suggests that other cofactors are required for the development of undifferentiated NPC. Several investigations reported simian virus 40 (SV40) footprints in human tumors of different histotypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from patients with undifferentiated NPC (n = 64) and healthy subjects (n = 130) were analyzed by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with SV40 synthetic peptides to detect antibodies against viral peptide (VP) capsid proteins VP1, 2, and 3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunologic data indicate that in sera from patients with undifferentiated NPC, the prevalence of SV40 antibodies was 25%, whereas in controls it was 16%. This difference is not statistically significant (p > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A similar prevalence of SV40 antibodies was detected in undifferentiated NPC and healthy subjects. Our serologic data suggest no association between undifferentiated NPC and SV40 infection. This investigation may stimulate further studies aimed at determining the possible contribution of other risk factors in the pathogenesis of undifferentiated NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corallini
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taronna
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbanti-Brodano
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Querzoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Eros
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magri
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: John Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rotondo
authors.affiliation: Cancer Bioimmunotherapy Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dolcetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vaccher
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tognon
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002277:Carcinoma; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: antibody; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); simian virus 40; undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma