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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Isolation and Quantification of Epstein-Barr Virus from the P3HR1 Cell Line
Published on: September 28, 2022
Risk stratification based on change in plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA load after treatment in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Yuan Zhang1, Wen-Fei Li1, Yan-Ping Mao1
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The current study investigated change in the plasma EBV DNA load in the first 3 months after treatment and its clinical significance in NPC.
Methods:
A total of 273 patients with non-metastatic, histologically-proven NPC treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were retrospectively reviewed.
Results:
EBV DNA was detectable in 19/273 (7.0%) patients at the end of therapy (end-DNA). Three months later, 16/273 (5.9%) patients had detectable EBV DNA (3-month-DNA). To investigate risk stratified by the pattern of change in post-treatment EBV-DNA, we divided patients into four subgroups: Group 1, undetectable end-DNA and 3-month-DNA (n = 244); Group 2, detectable end-DNA and undetectable 3-month-DNA (n = 13); Group 3, undetectable end-DNA and detectable 3-month-DNA (n = 7); and Group 4, detectable end-DNA and 3-month-DNA (n = 2). Patients with delayed remission of EBV DNA after treatment (Group 2) had significantly poorer 3-year DFS (48.6% vs. 89.7%, P < 0.001), DMFS (48.6% vs. 94.6%, P < 0.001) and OS (91.7% vs. 97.5%, P < 0.001) than those with persistently undetectable EBV DNA post-treatment (Group 1). Five of the seven patients with re-emergent EBV DNA (Group 3) and both patients with persistent EBV DNA post-treatment (Group 4) developed disease failure.
Conclusion:
Plasma EBV DNA load continues to change during the first 3 months after treatment. The pattern of change in EBV DNA load post-treatment could help identify patients with different prognoses.
