W. KantakamalakulC. ChongkolwatanaP. NaksawatS. MuangsomboonS. SukpanichnantS. ChongvisalC. MetheetrairatU. KositanontP. PuthavathanaMahidol University2018-09-072018-09-072000-12-01Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology. Vol.18, No.4 (2000), 221-2260125877X2-s2.0-0034462072https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/25956Nasopharyngeal 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.Mahidol UniversityImmunology and MicrobiologyMedicineArticleSCOPUS