Pai Ping-Ching, Tseng Chen-Kan, Chuang Chi-Cheng, Wei Kuo-Chen, Hao Sheng-Po, Hsueh Chuen, Chang Kai-Ping, Tsang Ngan-Ming
Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Linkou, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Head Neck. 2007 Feb;29(2):109-19. doi: 10.1002/hed.20483.
The C-terminal activation region 2 (CTAR2) of Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 is the major site that correlates with metastasis-related signaling pathway. The variation of CTAR2 sequence may affect the incidence of distant metastasis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
Two hundred forty-nine specimens from consecutive patients with nonmetastatic NPC were collected. Amplification by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis of CTAR2 were performed. DNA sequence identical to the Cao strain was grouped as Cao CTAR2, whereas sequences differing from Cao made up non-Cao CTAR2. Clinical characteristics and CTAR2 status were subjected to statistical analysis for distant metastasis.
Non-Cao CTAR2 was associated with a statistically significant lower distance metastasis and superior survival rate. A combination of clinical stage and CTAR2 expression provided an accurate method of identifying high risk of metastasis.
NPC patients with non-Cao CTAR2 were less likely to have metastasis develop than those characterized by Cao CTAR2.
