Abstract
Background: To evaluate the diagnostic value of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with locoregional or distant recurrence.Methods: Articles related to the diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic NPC by the detection of EBV DNA in plasma or serum were retrieved from different databases. Sensitivity, specificity, summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves, and likelihood ratios were pooled to assess the diagnostic value of individual diagnostic tests.Results: This meta-analysis pooled 25 eligible studies including 2496 patients with NPC. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (+LR), and negative likelihood ratio (−LR) of EBV DNA in the diagnosis of NPC were 0.858 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.801–0.901), 0.890 (95% CI: 0.866–0.909), 7.782 (95% CI: 6.423–9.429) and 0.159 (95% CI: 0.112–0.226), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 48.865 (95% CI: 31.903–74.845). The SROC for EBV DNA detection was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.90–0.95).Conclusion: The detection of EBV DNA for the diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic NPC has good sensitivity and specificity and might be helpful in monitoring recurrent or metastatic NPC.
Highlights
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of cancer with a high incidence in Southern China and Southeast Asian countries, affecting 10–50 per 100000 people per year [1–4]
With computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it is difficult to detect distant metastases early and when the diameter of the lesion is less than 5 mm [11], which will delay the discovery of the tumor
20 papers were from China, which is consistent with the high incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in China
Summary
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of cancer with a high incidence in Southern China and Southeast Asian countries, affecting 10–50 per 100000 people per year [1–4]. Despite significant improvements in survival and local control due to advances in radiotherapy and combined modality treatments, local recurrence and distant metastasis remain difficult to avoid in patients with advanced NPC [6]. It was reported that the rate of local recurrence and distant metastasis after 5 years of the initial treatment for NPC is 8.2–22.0% [7]. The main diagnostic method for the recurrence or metastasis of NPC patients is clinical imaging examination combined with endoscopic biopsy. Pathological examination is the gold standard for the diagnosis of NPC recurrence and metastasis. To evaluate the diagnostic value of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with locoregional or distant recurrence. Methods: Articles related to the diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic NPC by the detection of EBV DNA in plasma or serum were retrieved from different databases.
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