Browsing by Author "C. Metheetrairat"

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    Specific IgA antibody to Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen: A better marker for screening nasopharyngeal carcinoma than EBV-DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction
    (2000-12-01) W. Kantakamalakul; C. Chongkolwatana; P. Naksawat; S. Muangsomboon; S. Sukpanichnant; S. Chongvisal; C. Metheetrairat; U. Kositanont; P. Puthavathana; Mahidol University
    Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. To assess whether EBV DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or presence of specific serum antibody to viral capsid antigen (VCA) was a better marker for screening NPC, nasopharyngeal tissues and blood samples from 58 NPC patients and 24 non-NPC patients (23 with laryngotracheal stenosis and 1 with chronic tonsillitis) were tested for the presence of EBV DNA and serum specific VCA antibodies, respectively. EBV DNA was detected in 56 (96.5%) of NPC patients and 15 (62.5%) of non-NPC controls, with predominantly EBV type A in both groups. On the other hand, specific VCA IgA antibody was detected in the majority of NPC patients: 52 (89.7%) while only 4 (16.7%) were detected in non-NPC controls. Therefore, specific VCA IgA antibody may serve as a better marker for screening NPC than EBV DNA detected by PCR.