Open AccessNasopharyngeal Carcinoma Characteristics in Portugal
Author(s) -
Breda Eduardo L.,
Pereira Maria,
Monteiro Eurico,
Catarino Raquel,
Sousa Hugo,
Medeiros Rui
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599811416318a47
Subject(s) - nasopharyngeal carcinoma , genotype , medicine , oncology , epidemiology , disease , cyclin d1 , epstein–barr virus , cancer , immunology , biology , genetics , virus , gene , cell cycle , radiation therapy
Objective 1) Learn the histologicdistribution of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in a nonendemic European country. 2) Learn epidemiological data of NPC in a nonendemic European country. 3) Understand the implications of some genetic polymorphisms on NPC development. Method Using data collected from a retrospective study of 320 NPC patients obtained at the Oporto Portuguese Institute of Oncology during 31 years, a study is made concerning histological characterization, median age, gender profiles, NPC‐EBV relationship, and relevance of concerned genetic polymorphisms on probability of disease and age of onset. Results A total of 300 out of 320 patients had nonkeratinizing carcinomas (93.75%), with a mean age of 48 years old and twofold male preponderance. Using PCR analysis, EBV‐DNA was found in 91.7% of 36 tumor tissue samples. Regarding genetic polymorphisms, 2 case‐control studies were performed, including 104 patients and 285 control individuals. TP53 codon 72 pro/pro genotype ( P =. 012; OR = 2.67; 95% CI 1.21‐5.90) and A870G cyclin D1 GG genotype ( P =. 016; OR = 2.09; 95% CI 1.15‐3.79) were associated with increased risk for NPC development. Moreover, cyclin D1 GG genotype was also correlated with earlier disease onset. Conclusion The high relative proportion of nonkeratinizing carcinomas is a relevant finding in this nonendemic European country, and so is the association of EBV‐DNA with NPC. This study may help to understand the biologic mechanisms of NPC and the correlation of EBV infection with disease in a low‐risk nonendemic region.