EB virus‐associated antibodies in caucasian patients with carcinoma OE the nasopharynx and in long‐term survivors after treatment

Sera from 30 Swedish patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) collected before or shortly after commencement of therapy and from 24 long‐term survivors (LTS) were tested for antibodies to Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) capsid antigens (VCA), to the O and R components of the EBV‐induced early antigen (EA) complex, and to EBV‐determined cell membrane antigens (MA). In the tumor‐bearing patients, all serologic reactivities increased overall from stage I to later stages of the disease: that is, with an increase in total tumor burden. In the LTS, who had remained apparently tumor‐free for 3 to 29 years, all reactivities were substantially lower than in the tumor‐bearing patients. While the data agreed in principle with those reported previously for Chinese NPC patients, there were considerable differences with respect to the incidence and titres of antibodies to the D component which, as discussed, might reflect a reduced responsiveness of Caucasian NPC patients or a difference in the distribution of various types of the disease among ethnic groups.