Epstein-Barr Virus-Based Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) Risk Prediction Scores Are Elevated in NPC Multiplex Family Members in Taiwan

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 223; no. 3; pp. 441 - 444
• Main Authors: Lee, Mei-Hsuan, Huang, Yu-Han, Coghill, Anna E, Liu, Zhiwei, Yu, Kelly J, Hsu, Wan-Lun, Chien, Yin-Chu, Wang, Cheng-Ping, Chen, Tseng-Cheng, Chen, Chien-Jen, Hildesheim, Allan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 13.02.2021
• Subjects: Epstein-Barr virus; Families & family life; Genetic factors; Head & neck cancer; Health risks; Major and Brief Reports; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Prediction models; Throat cancer; Taiwan; host-virus interactions; immune; genetic susceptibility; virus control; multiplex antibody array
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa385

Abstract Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and is more likely to occur in susceptible families. Whether genetic susceptibility operates through altered EBV control is incompletely understood. We used a NPC risk prediction model based on 14 EBV markers to compare risk score distribution in unaffected members from multiplex families with that in population-based controls. Despite the absence of NPC at the time of antibody measurement, we observed an upward shift in risk score among multiplex family members compared to the general population, consistent with the possibility that genetic factors affect NPC risk through alterations in EBV control.