Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis

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Combined analysis of autoantibodies against p53  and Epstein-Barr virus VCA-IgA for improved diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PENG Yuhui1,XIE Changle2,ZHUANG Shanshan1,ZHANG Liqun3,XU Yiwei1,*   

  1. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tumor Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041
  • Received:2014-10-11 Revised:2014-12-07 Online:2015-01-31 Published:2015-01-31

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum autoantibodies against p53 in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS:The study included 242 patients with NPC and 218 normal controls. Serum levels of autoantibodies against p53 and classical Epstein-Barr virus VCA-IgA were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS:Serum levels of autoantibodies against p53 were significantly higher in NPC than in normal controls (P<0.01). Measurement of autoantibodies against p53 and VCA-IgA demonstrated a sensitivity/specificity of 40.1% (95%CI:33.9%-46.6%)/95.0% (95%CI:90.9%-97.3%) and 47.5% (95%CI:41.1%-54.0%)/95.4% (95%CI:91.5%-97.7%),respectively. The combination of autoantibodies against p53 and VCA-IgA yielded an enhanced sensitivity of 69.4% (95%CI:63.1%-75.0%) and a similar specificity of 90.8% (95%CI:86.0%-94.2%). Moreover,detection of autoantibodies against p53 could differentiate early stage NPC patients from normal controls. The positive rate of autoantibodies against p53 was not significantly related to age,gender,T stage,N stage or overall stage (P>0.05). CONCLUSION:Autoantibodies against p53 might be used as a potential biomarker supplementary to VCA-IgA for screening and diagnosis of NPC.

Key words: p53, autoantibody, Epstein-Barr virus, VCA-IgA, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, diagnosis