Objective: To detect the levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 Antibodies (LMP1-Ab) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)sera and discuss the clinical significance of this test in diagnosis, prognosis, and immune-targeted therapy of NPC.
Method: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot method were used to detect the LMP1-Ab levels in 61 NPC sera, 30 nasopharyngitis sera, and 55 normal sera. The relationship between the LMP1-Ab level and clinical and pathological features of NPC was analyzed.
Result: ELISA test showed that LMP1 antibodies level was significantly higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma group than those in nasopharyngitis group and in healthy group and there were statistical significances (all P<0.05). In SNPC group, the LMP1-Ab level was not related to the pathological grade and cervical lymph node metastases (P>0.05). Western blot test revealed that the expression of LMP1 antibodies was higher in NPC sera than in nasopharyngitis sera and in normal sera.
Conclusion: LMP1-Ab level was higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma group than in nasopharyngitis group and in normal group. Therefore, LMP1 may be considered as a tumor correlated antigen to help the diagnosis and immune-targeted therapy of NPC.