RESUMO
UNLABELLED: Several studies have been published concerning Epstein-barr virus (EBV) infection and nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) development. The incidences of histological types are different according to endemic or non-endemic regions. Latent EBV infection is found in almost all cases of NPC in endemic regions, but normally absent in type I carcinomas, more common in non-endemic regions. AIM: The purpose of this hospital-based study was to analyze the presence of EBV in nasopharyngeal tumor tissues and in peripheral blood of nasopharyngeal cancer patients and healthy individuals, in a low risk, non-endemic area. METHODS: EBV detection in samples of nasopharyngeal cancer patients and healthy individuals. RESULTS: This study indicates that the frequency of EBV positive cases in peripheral blood is higher in advanced tumor stages. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rates of NPC have a distinct distribution. Since the prevalence of this disease is low in occidental countries, little is known about the biology of these tumors in non-endemic areas. We observed statistically significant differences in EBV detection between the NPC patient group and the control group. This study may help to understand the biological mechanisms of NPC and the correlation of EBV infection with this disease, in a low risk, non-endemic region.
Assuntos
DNA Viral/análise , Infecções por Vírus Epstein-Barr/diagnóstico , Herpesvirus Humano 4/isolamento & purificação , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Carcinoma , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Carcinoma Nasofaríngeo , Neoplasias Nasofaríngeas/virologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Several studies have been published concerning Epstein-barr virus (EBV) infection and nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) development. The incidences of histological types are different according to endemic or non-endemic regions. Latent EBV infection is found in almost all cases of NPC in endemic regions, but normally absent in type I carcinomas, more common in non-endemic regions. AIM: The purpose of this hospital-based study was to analyze the presence of EBV in nasopharyngeal tumor tissues and in peripheral blood of nasopharyngeal cancer patients and healthy individuals, in a low risk, non-endemic area. METHODS: EBV detection in samples of nasopharyngeal cancer patients and healthy individuals. RESULTS: This study indicates that the frequency of EBV positive cases in peripheral blood is higher in advanced tumor stages. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rates of NPC have a distinct distribution. Since the prevalence of this disease is low in occidental countries, little is known about the biology of these tumors in non-endemic areas. We observed statistically significant differences in EBV detection between the NPC patient group and the control group. This study may help to understand the biological mechanisms of NPC and the correlation of EBV infection with this disease, in a low risk, non-endemic region.
Têm sido publicados vários estudos acerca da infecção por Epstein-Barr vírus (EBV) e o desenvolvimento de carcinoma da nasofaringe (NPC). As prevalências dos tipos histológicos e a presença de infecção latente pelo EBV são diferentes em regiões endémicas e não endémicas. OBJETIVO: O objectivo deste estudo consistiu na detecção de EBV em tecido tumoral da nasofaringe e sangue periférico de doentes com NPC e em indivíduos saudáveis, provenientes duma área não-endémica, de baixo risco. MÉTODOS: Detecção de EBV em amostras de doentes com carcinoma da nasofaringe e indivíduos saudáveis. Neste estudo de série foram avaliadas as implicações clínicas da presença de EBV circulante no sangue periférico de doentes com carcinoma da nasofaringe. RESULTADOS: Este estudo indica que a frequência de casos EBV positivos detectados no sangue periférico é superior em tumores de estádio mais avançado. CONCLUSÕES: Estes resultados indicam que se observam diferenças na pesquisa do vírus Epstein-Barr no grupo de doentes com NPC e no grupo controlo, sem tumor. Este estudo pode ajudar na compreensão dos mecanismos biológicos do cancro da nasofaringe e da correlação destes tumores com a infecção por EBV numa área não-endémica, de baixo risco.