EVALUATION OF MULTIPLE ANTIBODIES TO EPSTEIN BARR-VIRUS AS MARKERS FOR DETECTING PATIENTS WITH NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA/

Five serological tests were assessed for their sensitivity for screeni ng and early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The tests in cluded the detection of antibodies to various gene products of EBV: vi ral capsid antigen (VCA) using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (F A), DNase using an activity neutralisation test (NT), DNase using an e nzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), DNA polymerase (DP) using NT , and major DNA binding protein (MDBP) by ELISA. Sera from 100 NPC out patients and 20 NPC patients, who were detected in a prospective study , were examined. The results showed that levels of antibody to DNase d etected by ELISA and to DP detected by NT and the positivity rate for VCA by FA increased with NPC stage. More species of EBV antibody becam e detectable as NPC progressed. The detection of anti-MDBP antibody by ELISA was suitable for screening for NPC. Anti-DP antibody detected b y NT was a valuable marker both for early detection and prognosis of N PC. Detection of anti-DNase antibody by ELISA was the most sensitive m ethod for detection of NPC. No single test was sufficient to detect al l the NPC patients and a combination of anti-DNase by ELISA with other tests are recommended to identify NPC patients. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.