Abstract 3550: Benefits of follow-up screening for Epstein Barr virus DNA in patients with localized nasopharyngial carcinoma .

Abstract

Abstract Objective: In this study, we investigated whether detection of Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-DNA in plasma is a prognostic indicator of disease recurrence in patients who have been treated for localized nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: Study subjects comprised 389 patients who had received treatment for localized nasopharyngeal carcinoma in our outpatient department. Copy numbers of EBV-DNA in plasma were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR. Patients in whom disease recurrence was suspected underwent positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies. Results: Plasma EBV-DNA was detectable in 60 of 63 (95%) patients with metastatic disease and all had positive PET findings. In addition, of the 45 patients with localized recurrent disease, plasma EBV-DNA was detectable in 23 (51%) patients and positive PET scan results were obtained in 40 (89%) of the patients. Of the 284 patients who were disease free, plasma EBV-DNA was detected in 90 (32%) patients. Of the 19 patients in disease free group who were suspected disease recurrence with PET scanning, 7 positive PET images were found including 3 second primary malignancy and 4 non-cancer lesions. Two lymphoma cases with positive EBV-DNA value sequentially attacked before or after their NPC were diagnosed. Conclusions: EBV-DNA is a good marker of localized disease recurrence/metastasis after treatment for NPC but needs to be combined with imaging studies such as PET to monitor disease status. Citation Format: Cheng-Lung Hsu. Benefits of follow-up screening for Epstein Barr virus DNA in patients with localized nasopharyngial carcinoma . [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3550. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3550