Open AccessImpaired Long‐term T Cell Immunity to Epstein‐Barr Virus in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Author(s) -
Tamura Shinji,
Yamazaki Atsushi,
Kunimoto Masaru,
Takemura Kiyoshi,
Tabata Toshihide,
Hinuma Yorio,
Yoshie Osamu
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
japanese journal of cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 0910-5050
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1992.tb01948.x
Subject(s) - nasopharyngeal carcinoma , epstein–barr virus , immunity , virus , immunology , cellular immunity , immune system , carcinoma , herpesviridae , biology , medicine , viral disease , pathology , radiation therapy
The long‐term T cell immunity to Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) is considered to play an important role in suppressing proliferation of EBV‐infected B cells and outgrowth of EBV‐associated tumors. It can be manifested and quantified by the EBV‐induced focus regression assay. In the present study, we examined the strength of T cell immunity to EBV in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and other cancers originating from the head and neck region. In contrast to patients with other types of cancers, including EBV‐negative NPC, patients with EBV‐positive NPC were found to have a profound impairment in the long‐term T cell immunity to EBV.