Detection of human papilloma virus and Epstein-Barr virus DNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by polymerase chain reaction.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an unique epithelial malignancy which occurs at a high frequency in certain regions of Southeast Asia. Human papilloma virus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have both been identified in tissue specimens from NPC. Nevertheless, the association between viral infection and NPC remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that simultaneous infection with EBV and HPV can occur in NPC. Eighty-eight fresh tissue samples which contained sufficient and adequate DNA from patients with histologically confirmed NPC were examined for the existence of HPV and EBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that HPV and EBV DNA were detected in 51% and in 83% of the specimens, respectively. Coexistence of EBV and HPV in NPC was found in 42% of the samples. The "high risk" types including HPV-16 and HPV-18 accounted for 67% of 45 HPV positive samples. Furthermore, 80% of HPV-16 or HPV-18 positive samples also contained EBV DNA. Our findings suggest that coexistence of EBV and "high risk" HPV-16 or HPV-18 infection may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of NPC.