Study of diagnostic value and the relation with prognostic factors of serum EBV-DNA level in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: Initially study of diagnostic and prognostic role of serum EBV-DNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Materials and methods: Studied in 39 nasopharyngeal carcinomas, treated at Hue Central Hospital and Danang Oncology Hospital from 01/2021 to 07/2022. All patients were evaluated serum EBV-DNA by Realtime-PCR before and 1 month post-treatment, evaluated response by RECIST 1.1 criteria 3 months post-treatment. Cut-off score of serum EBV-DNA pre-treatment was 1500 copies/ml, and post-treatment was 0 copy/ml. Results: Mean age was 46.6 ± 15.4. Rate of stage IV, III were 38.5% and 35.9% respectively. Levels of serum EBV-DNA pre-treatment was higher than post-treatment, p < 0.001: 16888.6 ± 2 0037.8 copies/ml (0 - 97500 copies/ml) and 490.3 ± 1785.6 copies/ml (0 - 10700 copies/ml). There was relation between serum EBV-DNA and stages of tumor, lymph nodes, metastasis, clinical stages and treatment outcomes: The later stage at diagnosis was, the higher serum EBV-DNA levels. Patients with negative post-treatment serum EBV-DNA obtained better tumor, lymph node response than positive post-treatment serum EBV-DNA patients. Conclusions: Pre- and post-treatment serum EBV-DNA level was a value in diagnosis, prognosis and following-up to nasopharyngeal carcinomas. Level of the pre-treatment serum EBV-DNA took a part in cancer status, while the post-treatment serum EBV-DNA was an early prognostic factor of treatment response. Key words: nasopharyngeal carcinoma, EBV-DNA, prognosis.