Persistent EBV viremia was associated with 17-fold higher risk for diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer in 3–5 years; most were early stage at detection.
Men in Southeast Asia are at high risk for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), which has a strong association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Both morbidity and mortality from NPC are high, reflecting advanced stages at diagnosis in most patients. Investigators used PCR to test 20,000 men in Hong Kong (age range, 40–62) for EBV viremia. Those who were positive were invited to repeat screening 4 weeks later to confirm persistence. Men with persistent positivity for EBV underwent MRI and endoscopy; 34 cases of NPC were detected.
Three to five years after the initial screening for EBV viremia, Chan et al. have conducted a second round of screening in the same cohort. Among 17,838 screened men, 423 were persistently positive, and 24 cases of N…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardAicuris; Bayer; GSK; Innovative Molecules; Merck; MAPP Biopharmaceutical (Safety Monitoring Committee)
RoyaltiesUpToDate
Grant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; GSK; Moderna; Assembly Biomedical; Aicuris
Editorial BoardsSexually Transmitted Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Infections; Journal of Infectious Diseases
Leadership PositionsID Division Chiefs Community of Practice (At-Large Member)
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardAicuris; Bayer; GSK; Innovative Molecules; Merck; MAPP Biopharmaceutical (Safety Monitoring Committee)
RoyaltiesUpToDate
Grant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; GSK; Moderna; Assembly Biomedical; Aicuris
Editorial BoardsSexually Transmitted Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Infections; Journal of Infectious Diseases
Leadership PositionsID Division Chiefs Community of Practice (At-Large Member)