Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus DNA and Risk of Future Nasopharyngeal Cancer

NEJM Evid. 2023 Jul;2(7):EVIDoa2200309. doi: 10.1056/EVIDoa2200309. Epub 2023 Jun 27.

Abstract

EBV DNA Rescreening StudyPatients who had participated in a previous plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA screening study were rescreened. Of the 17,838 rescreened patients, 423 had persistently detectable plasma EBV DNA; 24 of these patients developed nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Sixty-seven percent of them received a diagnosis of early-stage disease and had increased progression-free survival compared with historical controls.

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Viral
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Humans
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • DNA, Viral