Epstein-Barr virus-associated antigens in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Thirty-five sera from American patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were examined for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated antigens and compared with 85 sera from patients with other head and neck cancers, 80 sera from patients with lymphoma, and 47 sera from healthy control subjects. There was a definite correlation between the presence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and the level of antibody titers to EBV. In particular, two tests that detected antibody to early antigen and antibody to viral capsid antigen in the serum IgA fraction were highly specific for the presence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. There was a significant decrease in these antibody titers with clinical remission of the disease in treated patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Clinically, these tests should have important application in the management and follow-up of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.