Comparison of Epstein-Barr virus DNA level in plasma, peripheral blood cell and tumor tissue in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract

Our results indicate that plasma EBV-DNA is a more sensitive and reliable biomarker than PBC EBV-DNA for diagnosis, staging and therapeutic effect evaluation at a molecular level in NPC clinical practice. Plasma EBV-DNA may derive from the cancer cells and PBC EBV-DNA from circulating mononuclear cells in NPC patients.