Human nasopharyngeal carcinomas positive for Epstein-Barr virus DNA in North America

Nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) from 2 black patients and 1 Caucasian patient were positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA. Of the tumors, 2 were lymphoepitheliomas (undifferentiated NPC) and 1 was a moderately differentiated NPC. All 3 patients had high IgG titers against EBV early antigen and high IgG and IgA titers against virus capsid antigen (VCA). In one patient, the levels of anti-VCA IgA were different than those of anti-VCA IgG over the course of the disease. Our data support the association of EBV and NPC in North America.