Detection of Interleukin 2 Receptor and EBV Antibody in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Sun, Dong Il; Kim, Min Sik; Cho, Seung Ho; Suh, Byung Do; Kim, Hoon Kyo; Lee, Kyung Sik; Chung, Su Mi; Yoon, Sei Chul

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is highly prevalent among southeastern Chinese,and not rare in Korea. Due to NPC usually spreads submucosally and complexity of anatomy in the nasopharynx, we have difficulty in determining the exact extent of tumor. If we know the parameters that represent tumor burden and prognosis, it is very helpful to decide planning of treatment. NPC is etiologically related to Epstein Barr Virus(EBV), and many studies have been reported dealing with EBV and its relationships to the clinical course of NPC. Interleukin 2 receptor(IL-2R) are released from activated human T lymphocyte and marked elevated levels of serum IL-2R have been reported in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders such as leukemia,lymphoma. Histologicallly NPC is associated with T lymphocyte infiltration and it was also reported that the serum levels of IL-2R represents a good marker of tumor burden in NPC. The purpose of this papers was to detect the levels of IL-2R , viral capsid antigen(VCA) IgA and early antigen(EA) IgG in the serum of 19 NPC patients and analyzed the relationships those values and clinical courses, for its usefulness in estimating the tumor burden and predicting the response to therapy and prognosis, who diagnosed as NPC in Kang Nam St. Mary Hospital from June 1993 to November 1995. The results were as follows. 1) Serum IL-2R levels of NPC was not higher than that of controls and showed no relationships with the stage of the NPC. 2) Serum IL-2R levels of recurrent group were higher than that of remission groups(p=0.019). 3) Titers of VCA(IgA), EA(IgG) were higher than that of controls(p=0.0009) and showed no relatiohships with the stage of NPC. 4) There is no differences in the titer of antibodies to EBV according to histological types of NPC. 5) The titers of EA(IgA) had relationship to clinical results(p=0.0286). Above results suggested that higher levels of IL-2R and titers of EBV antibody after therapy, detailed examination should be done for the detection of possible recurrent and remained disease with close follow up.