Detection Of EBV-MLP1 Antibodies In Sera And Clinical Significance In The Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

ObjectiveTo detect the levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 Antibodies (LMP1-Ab) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)sera and discuss the clinical significance of this test in diagnosis,prognosis, and immune-targeted therapy of NPC.MethodsEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot method were used to detect and compare the LMP1-Ab levels in 61 NPC sera, 30 nasopharyngitis sera, and 55 normal sera. The relationship between the LMP1-Ab level and clinical and pathological features of NPC patients sera was analyzed.ResultsELISA test showed that LMP1-Ab level was significantly higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma group ( 0.618,[0.565-1.070] ) than those in nasopharyngitis group ( 0.567, [0.534-0.632] ) and healthy group ( 0.432, [ 0.375-0.476]), and there were statistical significances of differences among the groups (all P <0.05) . In NPC group, the LMP1-Ab level was not related to the pathological grade and cervical lymph node metastases ( P > 0.05) . Western blot test revealed that the expression of LMP1-Ab was higher in NPC sera than those in nasopharyngitis sera and normal sera.Conclusion LMP1–Ab level was higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma group than those in nasopharyngitis group and normal group. This study suggests that LMP1-Ab detectation in sera using LMP1 fusion protein may be assisted serological screening of EBV infection and diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. LMP1 may be also considered as a tumor correlated antigen to help the immune-targeted therapy of NPC.