Longitudinal post-radiotherapy plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA trends inform on optimal risk stratification in endemic nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives: To characterize longitudinal changes in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA post-radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, and investigate whether an early (0-2 weeks) or delayed (8-12 weeks) EBV DNA result better predicts for disease-free survival (DFS).

Materials and methods: Histologically-confirmed NPC patients with ≥1 EBV DNA test quantified using the harmonized BamHI-W polymerase chain reaction-based assay at 0-2 and 8-12 weeks post-radiotherapy were included.

Results: We identified 302 patients with EBV DNA measured at 0-2 weeks post-radiotherapy; of which, 110 (36.4 %) underwent a repeat test at 8-12 weeks post-treatment. Patients harboring a detectable EBV DNA at 0-2 weeks experienced an inferior DFS (adjusted HR_{1-264 copies} 1.72 [95 %CI: 1.05-2.83], P = 0.031; AHR_{≥265 copies} 4.39 [95 %CI: 1.68-11.44], P = 0.002 relative to 0 copies/mL). At 8-12 weeks, we observed substantial shifts in EBV DNA readings from 0 to 2 weeks; 76/110 (69.1 %) and 34/110 (30.9 %) patients at 0-2 weeks versus 90/110 (81.8 %) and 20/110 (18.2 %) at 8-12 weeks recorded undetectable and detectable EBV DNA, respectively. Positive EBV DNA at 8-12 weeks was strongly associated with relapse (73.3 % [11/15] for 1-264; 80.0 % [4/5] for ≥265 subgroups had relapses versus 15.6 % [14/90] for 0 copies/mL). Area under receiver operating curve values for 2-year relapse rates were 0.817 (95 %CI: 0.725-0.909) for stage + EBV DNA_8-12w versus 0.654 (95 %CI: 0.542-0.765) for stage + EBV DNA_0-2w. CONCLUSION: EBV DNA is dynamic post-radiotherapy, and delayed EBV DNA testing better enriched for higher-risk NPC patients. This implicates trials investigating adjuvant chemotherapy intensification based on early EBV DNA testing.

Keywords: EBV DNA; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Post-radiotherapy; Prognosis; Risk stratification.