Antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen and early antigen in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and comparison groups.

Antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen (anti-VCA) and early antigen (anti-EA) were measured in 263 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), 624 age- and sex-matched neighborhood controls, 570 family members of NPC patients and 830 family members of neighborhood controls in Taiwan. The distribution of antibody titers was significantly different between NPC patients and the other three groups. More than 55% and 45% of NPC patients had titers of greater than or equal to 1:640 and greater than or equal to 1:80 for anti-VCA and anti-EA, respectively, while less than 6.7% and 2.5% of the other three groups had such high titers. The geometric means of anti-VCA and anti-EA titers were 1:352 and 1:45, respectively, in NPC patients compared to less than 1:77 and 1:12, respectively, in the comparison groups. Anti-VCA and anti-EA titers were significantly correlated. The association of EBV with NPC is discussed.