Circulating pretreatment Epstein Barr Virus DNA quantification as a prognostic factor in nasopharyngeal cancer patients in a non endemic area.

Abstract

e17054 Background: The value of plasma Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) DNA viral load in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients before treatment correlates with tumor stage and outcome in endemic areas. The aim of our analysis is to explore the role of EBV DNA in a non-endemic setting where just few experiences have been reported. Methods: The medical records of all the patients with positive EBV encoded RNA (EBER) NPC, treated in our institution from 2006 to 2014 with chemotherapy (CT) concurrent with radiation (RT), were retrospectively evaluated. Information about the known prognostic factors, as established in NPC endemic areas, were collected, as well as pretreatment plasma EBV DNA viral load, detected and quantified by real-time PCR. Results: A total of 134 patients were evaluated (median age 48 years; M:F ratio 2:1; stage II 13%, III 31%, IV 56%). Neo-adjuvant CT (TPF scheme) was administered to 78% of the patients. Platinum based CT was delivered concurrently with RT. At a median follow up of 41 months, 25...