Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody in patients treated by radical radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

J Surg Oncol, 1978;10(5):457-63.

Halili MR, Spigland I, Foster N, Ghossein NA

PMID: 215844

Impact factor: 2.885

Abstract
Antibody against Epstein Barr Viral capsid (EBV-VCA) was measured in 65 patients with primary head and neck cancer referred for radical radiotherapy. Sixty-three percent had locally advanced cancer and 37% had early disease. Forty-eight percent had detectable antibody in their sera. Thirty-three percent had elevated titers (above 1:20 dilution). Only 19% of cases with early cancer had increased titers. Almost 50% of those with locally advanced cancer or recurrence following treatment had titers above 1:20. A rise in titer within six months following radiotherapy was associated with a significant incidence of recurrence. There was no correlation between delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction to 2--4 dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and titer values. EBV-VCA may be an additional parameter which can be used to determine host defenses in patients with malignancies.
MeSH terms
More resources
EndNote: Download