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Plasma epstein‐barr virus DNA concentration and clearance rate as novel prognostic factors for metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Author(s) -
Hsu ChengLung,
Chang KaiPing,
Lin ChienYu,
Chang HsienKun,
Wang ChengHsu,
Lin TungLiang,
Liao ChunTa,
Tsang NganMing,
Lee LiYu,
Chan ShengChieh,
Ng ShuHang,
Li HsinPai,
Chang YuSun,
Wang HungMing
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21890
Subject(s) - nasopharyngeal carcinoma , cisplatin , regimen , medicine , clearance rate , virus , epstein–barr virus , real time polymerase chain reaction , oncology , gemcitabine , chemotherapy , gastroenterology , cancer research , immunology , radiation therapy , biology , gene , biochemistry
Abstract Background To investigate the pretreatment copy number and the clearance rate of plasma Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) DNA as novel prognostic outcome markers for metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods Seventy‐three patients with metastatic NPC were treated at outpatient department. Plasma EBV DNA concentrations and half‐life values of plasma viral clearance rates, were determined by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Treatment response evaluated after 3 to 6 months of treatment showed that the overall response rate was 53.5%. The pretreatment plasma EBV DNA concentrations and the half‐life of plasma EBV DNA clearance rates had significant effects on treatment response and overall survival prediction. In the chemotherapy regimen, gemcitabine plus cisplatin had a better treatment outcome than the cisplatin plus oral UFT and calcium folinate–based regimens. Conclusions The pretreatment plasma EBV DNA copy number and their clearance rates are significant predictors for NPC treatment outcome. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012