BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma often occurs in humans in the nasopharyngeal epithelium area. Ebstein-Barr (EB) virus plays a key role in the process of nasopharyngeal carcinoma lesions. Early antigen antibody (EA-IgA) and viral capsid antigen IgA (VCA-IgA) of EB virus detection in serum can effectively monitor the process of nasopharyngeal carcinoma lesions. Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -C and VEGF-D expression detection can reflect the distant metastases ability of human tumor cells.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 153 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients in our hospital were enrolled, while 148 cases of healthy adults were selected as control. ELISA was used to detect serum EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, VEGF-C and -D expression levels. Spearman rank correlation analysis was applied to test the correlation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma TNM clinical stage and different indexes.

RESULTS: Serum EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, VEGF-C and -D expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients was 43.74±2.6 U•mL^–1, 62.5±2.7 U·mL^–1, 473.25±3.4 pg•mL^–1, and 498.36±2.3 pg•mL^–1, respectively, which was significantly higher than in the control group as 18.65±3.7 U•mL^–1, 23.74±1.5 U•mL^–1, 225.42±2.3 pg•mL^–1, and 257.24±3.5 pg•mL^–1 (P<0.05). Nasopharyngeal carcinoma TNM clinical staging was obviously correlated with serum EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, and VEGF-C (P<0.05), but not VEGF-D (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient serum EA-IgA and VCA-IgA expression levels were significantly correlated with TNM staging. The high levels of these 3 indicators suggest advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma TNM staging and serious lesions.

Keywords: Antigens, CD - immunology, Epstein-Barr Virus Infections, Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - immunology, Antigens, Viral - immunology, Biomarkers, Tumor - blood, Case-Control Studies, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - pathology, Herpesvirus 4, Human - immunology, Immunoglobulin A - blood, Lectins, C-Type - immunology, Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - virology, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C - blood, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D - blood