Liquid biopsy in T-cell lymphoma: biomarker detection techniques and clinical application.

T-cell lymphoma is a highly invasive tumor with significant heterogeneity. Invasive tissue biopsy is the gold standard for acquiring molecular data and categorizing lymphoma patients into genetic subtypes. However, surgical intervention is unfeasible for patients who are critically ill, have unresectable tumors, or demonstrate low compliance, making tissue biopsies inaccessible to these patients. A critical need for a minimally invasive approach in T-cell lymphoma is evident, particularly in the areas of early diagnosis, prognostic monitoring, treatment response, and drug resistance. Therefore, the clinical application of liquid biopsy techniques has gained significant attention in T-cell lymphoma. Moreover, liquid biopsy requires fewer samples, exhibits good reproducibility, and enables real-time monitoring at molecular levels, thereby facilitating personalized health care. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current liquid biopsy biomarkers used for T-cell lymphoma, focusing on circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, antibodies, and cytokines. Additionally, we discuss their clinical application, detection methodologies, ongoing clinical trials, and the challenges faced in the field of liquid biopsy.

Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Exacerbates Arthritis in a Mouse Model via Toll-like Receptor 9.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is known to be shed upon reactivation of latent EBV. Based on our previous findings linking Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) to an EBV DNA-driven surge in IL-17A production, we aimed to examine the therapeutic potential of TLR9 inhibition in EBV DNA-exacerbated arthritis in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. C57BL/6J mice were administered either collagen, EBV DNA + collagen, EBV DNA + collagen + TLR9 inhibitor, or only the TLR9 inhibitor. After 70 days, paw thicknesses, clinical scores, and gripping strength were recorded. Moreover, affected joints, footpads, and colons were histologically scored. Furthermore, the number of cells co-expressing IL-17A, IFN-γ, and FOXP3 in joint sections was determined by immunofluorescence assays. Significantly decreased paw thicknesses, clinical scores, and histological scores with a significantly increased gripping strength were observed in the group receiving EBV DNA + collagen + TLR9 inhibitor, compared to those receiving EBV DNA + collagen. Similarly, this group showed decreased IL-17A+ IFN-γ+, IL-17A+ FOXP3+, and IL-17A+ IFN-γ+ FOXP3+ foci counts in joints. We show that inhibiting TLR9 limits the exacerbation of arthritis induced by EBV DNA in a CIA mouse model, suggesting that TLR9 could be a potential therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis management in EBV-infected individuals.

Quantitative detection of Epstein-Barr virus DNA methylation in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by blind brush sampling.

Detecting EBV DNA load in nasopharyngeal (NP) brushing samples for the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has attracted widespread attentions. Currently, NP brush sampling mostly relies on endoscopic guidance, and there are few reports on diagnostic markers suitable for nonguided conditions (blind brush sampling), which is of great significance for extending its application. One hundred seventy nasopharyngeal brushing samples were taken from 98 NPC patients and 72 non-NPC controls under the guidance of endoscope, and 305 blind brushing samples were taken without endoscopic guidance from 164 NPC patients and 141 non-NPC controls (divided into discovery and validation sets). Among these, 38 cases of NPC underwent both endoscopy-guided NP brushing and blind brushing. EBV DNA load targeting BamHI-W region and EBV DNA methylation targeting 11029 bp CpG site located at Cp-promoter region were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR). EBV DNA load showed good classification accuracy for NPC in endoscopy-guided brushing samples (AUC = 0.984). However, in blind bushing samples, the diagnostic performance was greatly reduced (AUC = 0.865). Unlike EBV DNA load, the accuracy of EBV DNA methylation was less affected by brush sampling methods, whether in endoscopy-guided brushing (AUC = 0.923) or blind brushing (AUC = 0.928 in discovery set and AUC = 0.902 in validation set). Importantly, EBV DNA methylation achieved a better diagnostic accuracy than EBV DNA load in blind brushing samples. Overall, detection of EBV DNA methylation with blind brush sampling shows great potential in the diagnosis of NPC and may facilitate its use in nonclinical screening of NPC.

Dynamic changes in circulating EBV-DNA load during treatment have prognostic values in EBV+ DLBCL-NOS: a Chinese cohort study.

EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (EBV+ DLBCL-NOS), is an EBV-positive clonal B-cell lymphoid proliferation and circulating EBV-DNA is a great indicator for prognosis among EBV associated disease. In this retrospective study, we report 66 EBV+ DLBCL cases among 2137 DLBCL-NOS cases diagnosed from 2013 to 2021 (prevalence of 6.0%). After a median follow-up of 27 months, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) at 2 years were 39.5% ± 6.2% and 53.6% ± 6.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that only the biomarker of the positivity of post treatment EBV-DNA had a borderline correlation with shorter PFS and OS (PFS: P = 0.053; OS: P = 0.065). Patients were divided into three subgroups according to dynamic changes of EBV-DNA status: EBV-DNA persistently negative group, EBV-DNA persistently positive group, and EBV-DNA transformed from positive to negative group; among the three groups, patients of the persistently positive group had worst PFS and OS (P = 0.0527 and P = 0.0139, respectively). Decline in EBV copies correlated significantly with treatment response as well. In conclusion, circulating EBV-DNA level played a vital role in prognostic and monitoring marker for EBV+ DLBCL-NOS.

Residual plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA after intensity-modulated radiation therapy is associated with poor outcomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the effects of residual plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels after 3 months of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) (postIMRT-EBV DNA) on prognosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: Data from 300 patients were retrospectively collected for analysis. Results: Of these patients, 25 (8.3%) and 275 (91.7%) had positive and negative postIMRT-EBV DNA, respectively. Multivariate survival analysis showed that EBV DNA >688 IU/ml was independently associated with inferior distant metastasis-free survival (p = 0.003) and progression-free survival (p = 0.002). Moreover, postIMRT-EBV DNA was independently associated with inferior locoregional recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio: 4.325; p = 0.018), distant metastasis-free survival (hazard ratio: 10.226; p < 0.001) and progression-free survival (hazard ratio: 10.520; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Positive postIMRT-EBV DNA is a prognostic biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

A retrospective analysis of EBV-DNA status with the prognosis of lymphoma.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is proved to be associated with clinicopathology of lymphoma. However, little is known about the relationship between EBV-DNA status after treatment and prognosis. In this study, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for quantitative detection of EBV-DNA load in peripheral blood of all 26,527 patients with lymphoma, and the clinical characteristics and prognosis of 202 patients were retrospectively analysed, including 100 patients with positive EBV-DNA and 102 randomly selected patients with negative EBV-DNA. We found that the average rate of EBV-DNA positivity in lymphomas was 0.376%, and EBV-DNA-positive patients presented higher risk with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ß2-MG level, B symptoms, secondary hemophagocytic syndrome and lower objective response rate compared to EBV-DNA-negative patients. Multivariate analysis revealed EBV-DNA-positive patients had inferior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and EBV-DNA level before treatment was related to PFS but not OS of T/NK cell lymphoma. In T/NK cell lymphoma, EBV-DNA converting negative after treatment was correlated with better PFS but not OS, and second-line therapy could induce more EBV-DNA-negative conversion compared to CHOP-based therapy. In all, EBV-DNA positivity before treatment can be a biomarker representing the tumour burden and an independent prognostic factor. EBV-DNA-negative conversion after treatment is a good prognostic factor for T/NK cell lymphomas.

Cell-free EBV DNA as a biomarker during clinical management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a nonendemic region.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common malignant tumor of the nasopharynx. Although NPC is not endemic in India, higher incidences were observed in its North-Eastern regions particularly Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram. Early detection of NPC is difficult because the nasopharynx is not readily amenable to clinical examination and symptoms of NPC are nonspecific. The development of suitable biomarkers for early diagnosis of NPC as well as accurate monitoring of treatment response is needed urgently. In this exploratory pilot study, we have investigated the clinical significance of assessing plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA load at diagnosis and during treatment. We found that EBV DNA is detectable at diagnosis in the majority of patients with nonendemic NPC and the absolute copy number of circulating EBV DNA per milliliter increases progressively with the stage of the disease. The viral load declined significantly with induction chemotherapy and definitive chemoradiation but showed a sharp rise at relapse. Patients with EBV DNA levels ≥1500 copies/ml had a higher risk of disease progression or relapse when compared with patients who had EBV DNA <1500 copies/ml at baseline. Estimation of plasma EBV DNA may serve as an excellent noninvasive tool to monitor disease extent, response to therapy, and for better prediction of future relapse or progression-free survival in a nonendemic NPC patient population.

Association of delayed chemoradiotherapy with elevated Epstein-Barr virus DNA load and adverse clinical outcome in nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: To summarize the impact of radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy delays on patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We retrospectively included 233 patients with stage II-IVa NPC treated with RT and chemotherapy between December 11, 2019 and March 11, 2020. The outcomes were elevation in the EBV DNA load between two adjacent cycles of chemotherapy or during RT, and 1-year disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: RT delay occurred in 117 (50%) patients, and chemotherapy delay occurred in 220 (94%) patients. RT delay of ≥ 6 days was associated with a higher EBV DNA elevation rate (20.4% vs. 3.6%, odds ratio [OR] = 6.93 [95% CI = 2.49-19.32], P < 0.001), and worse 1-year DFS (91.2% vs. 97.8%, HR = 3.61 [95% CI = 1.37-9.50], P = 0.006), compared with on-schedule RT or delay of < 6 days. Chemotherapy delay of ≥ 10 days was not associated with a higher EBV DNA elevation rate (12.5% vs. 6.8%, OR = 1.94 [95% CI = 0.70-5.40], P = 0.20), or worse 1-year DFS (93.8% vs. 97.1%, HR = 3.73 [95% CI = 0.86-16.14], P = 0.059), compared with delay of < 10 days. Multivariable analyses showed RT delay of ≥ 6 days remained an independent adverse factor for both EBV DNA elevation and DFS. CONCLUSION: To ensure treatment efficacy for patients with nonmetastatic NPC, initiation of RT should not be delayed by more than 6 days; the effect of chemotherapy delay requires further investigation.

Combination of smoking and Epstein-Barr virus DNA is a predictor of poor prognosis for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a long-term follow-up retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study was performed to determine the prognostic potential of smoking and its combination with pre-treatment plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Medical records of 1080 non-metastatic NPC patients who received intensity-modulated radiotherapy were reviewed. Male patients were categorized as never and ever smokers, and the smoking amount, duration, and cumulative consumption were used to evaluate dose-dependent effects. Survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the multivariate Cox regression analysis. Propensity score matching (PSM) was constructed. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival (OS) was worse for ever smokers than never smokers, and significantly decreased with the increase of smoking amount, duration, and cumulative consumption. Compared with never smokers, the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of death was higher in ever smokers (HR = 1.361, P = 0.049), those smoked ≥20 cigarettes/day (HR = 1.473, P = 0.017), those smoked for ≥30 years (HR = 1.523, P = 0.023), and those cumulative smoked for ≥30 pack-years (HR = 1.649, P = 0.005). The poor prognostic effects of smoking was also confirmed in the PSM analysis. The combination of cumulative smoking consumption and pre-treatment EBV DNA levels was proven to be an independent poor prognostic factor for male NPC, and the risk of death, progression, and distant metastases gradually increased with both factors (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of smoking and pre-treatment EBV DNA levels as a predictor of poor prognosis could further improve the risk stratification and prognostication for NPC.

Prognostic significance of AKR1C4 and the advantage of combining EBV DNA to stratify patients at high risk of locoregional recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Distinguishing patients at a greater risk of recurrence is essential for treating locoregional advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study aimed to explore the potential of aldo-keto reductase 1C4 (AKR1C4) in stratifying patients at high risk of locoregional relapse. METHODS: A total of 179 patients with locoregionally advanced NPC were grouped by different strategies; they were: (a) divided into two groups according to AKR1C4 expression level, and (b) classified into three clusters by integrating AKR1C4 and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine potential prognostic factors, and a nomogram was generated to predict 3-year and 5-year LRFS. RESULTS: A significant difference in the 5-year LRFS was observed between the high and low AKR1C4 expression groups (83.3% vs. 92.7%, respectively; p = 0.009). After integrating AKR1C4 expression and EBV DNA, the LRFS (84.7%, 84.5%, 96.9%, p = 0.014) of high-, intermediate-, and low- AKR1C4 and EBV DNA was also significant. Multivariate analysis indicated that AKR1C4 expression (p = 0.006) was an independent prognostic factor for LRFS. The prognostic factors incorporated into the nomogram were AKR1C4 expression, T stage, and EBV DNA, and the concordance index of the nomogram for locoregional relapse was 0.718. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, high AKR1C4 expression was associated with a high possibility of relapse in NPC patients, and integrating EBV DNA and AKR1C4 can stratify high-risk patients with locoregional recurrence.

The superiority of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in plasma over in peripheral blood mononuclear cells for monitoring EBV-positive NK-cell lymphoproliferative diseases.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), characterized as an omnipresent virus, has been found able to infect NK cells and leads to NK-cell type EBV-positive lymphoproliferative diseases (EBV-NK-LPDs). We retrospective analyzed 202 EBV-NK-LPDs (including 64 CAEBV-NK, 27 aggressive natural killer-cell leukemia (ANKL), and 111 extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL)) patients' relationships between EBV DNA copies laboratory test results and clinical features. In CAEBV-NK cohort, EBV DNA loads in either plasma or PBMCs had significant differences between the active state and the inactive state. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to measure the diagnosis accuracy of EBV DNA copies. After comparing the area under the curve, EBV DNA loads in plasma had significantly higher accuracy in distinguishing disease activation than in PBMCs. Therefore, we propose redefining CAEBV-NK diagnosis criteria as increased EBV DNA copies in plasma (over 7.1 × 102 copies/ml) instead of in peripheral blood. In ANKL and ENKTL cohorts, patients who received effective therapy had significantly lower EBV DNA copies in plasma & PBMCs than in those with ineffective therapy. The significant and consistent decline indicated EBV DNA loads in plasma being a more sensitive biomarker in monitoring EBV-NK-LPDs therapy responses. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) can occur secondary to EBV-NK-LPDs, mostly associated with a poor prognosis, so we try to estimate the combination of HLH by monitoring EBV DNA copies. When comparing the Receiver operating characteristic curves of EBV DNA copies, EBV DNA loads in plasma had higher diagnosis accuracy. When the copies level over 4.16 × 103 copies/ml, it might indicate combining with HLH.

Association of Epstein-Barr virus DNA and SAA with S1 maintenance therapy outcomes in patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objectives: The relevant biomarkers in predicting maintenance therapy (MT) outcomes in metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are yet unclear. Patients & methods: Metastatic NPC patients were randomly divided into MT (S1-MT) and non-MT groups. The association of Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV-DNA) and SAA with survival was assessed. Results: A total of 183 patients were included. S1-MT significantly increased the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the metastatic NPC patients (both p < 0.001). For patients who were EBV-DNA positive or had decreased SAA, the PFS and OS increased significantly after S1-MT (both p < 0.001), while patients with stable SAA did not benefit from S1-MT. Conclusion: S1-MT improved the PFS and OS of metastatic NPC patients. EBV-DNA and SAA status were closely associated with the outcomes of S1-MT. Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR-IOR-16007939.

The diagnostic value of EBV-DNA and EBV-related antibodies detection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Numerous individual studies have investigated the diagnostic value of EBV-DNA, EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, EBNA1-IgA and Rta-IgG detection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but the conclusions remain controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the value of EBV-DNA, EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, EBNA1-IgA and Rta-IgG detection in the diagnosis of NPC. METHODS: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019145532. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Chinese data libraries (Wanfang, CNKI, and CBM) were searched up to January 2019. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and positive likelihood, negative likelihood, and diagnostic odds ratios were conducted in this meta-analysis. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves evaluated the test-performance global summary. Publication bias was examined by Deek's funnel plot asymmetry test. RESULTS: Forty-seven studies with 8382 NPC patients (NPC group) and 15,089 individuals without NPC (Control group) were included in this meta-analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood (+ LR), negative likelihood (-LR), DOR and AUC of EBV-DNA in diagnosis of NPC were: 0.76 (95% CI 0.73-0.77), 0.96 (95% CI 0.95-0.97), 14.66 (95% CI 9.97-21.55), 0.19 (95% CI 0.13-0.28), 84 (95% CI 50.45-139.88), 0.96 (SE: 0.001), and 0.55 (95% CI 0.54-0.57), 0.96 (95% CI 0.96-0.97), 12.91 (95% CI 9.55-17.45), 0.35 (95% CI 0.29-0.43), 39.57 (95% CI 26.44-59.23), 0.94 (SE: 0.002) for the EA-IgA, and 0.85 (95% CI 0.84-0.85), 0.89 (95% CI 0.88-0.89), 6.73 (95% CI5.38-8.43), 0.17 (95% CI 0.12-0.23), 43.03 (95% CI 31.51-58.76), 0.93 (SE: 0.007) for the VCA-IgA, and 0.86 (95% CI 0.85-0.88), 0.87 (95% CI 0.88-0.90), 7.55 (95% CI 5.79-9.87), 0.16 (95% CI 0.13-0.19), 50.95 (95% CI 34.35-75.57), 0.94 (SE: 0.008) for the EBNA1-IgA, and 0.70 (95% CI 0.69-0.71), 0.94 (95% CI 0.94-0.95), 9.84 (95% CI 8.40-11.54), 0.25 (95% CI 0.21-0.31), 40.59 (95% CI 32.09-51.35), 0.95 (SE: 0.005) for the Rta-IgG. The EBV-DNA had larger AUC compared with other EBV-based antibodies (P < 0.05), while the difference between EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, EBNA1-IgA and Rta-IgG was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EBV-DNA, VCA-IgA, EBNA1-IgA and Rta-IgG detection have high accuracy in early diagnosis NPC. In addition, EBV-DNA detection has the higher diagnosis accuracy in NPC. On the other hand, EA-IgA is suitable for the diagnosis but not NPC screening.

Subdivision of de-novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on tumor burden and pretreatment EBV DNA for therapeutic guidance of locoregional radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy predominantly associated with infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Approximately 12,900 new cases of NPC occur each year, with more than 70% of cases occurring in the east and southeast Asia. NPC is different from ordinary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma due to its particular biological properties and it is highly sensitive to radiotherapy. With the development of RT technology, the 3-year local control rate and survival rates of non-metastatic NPC reached 80-90% in the intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) era. However, whether distant metastatic NPC (de novo mNPC, dmNPC) should receive locoregional RT (LRRT) needs to be clarified. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified three independent prognostic factors: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, number of metastatic lesions, and number of metastatic organs. Through these factors, all patients were successfully divided into 3 subgroups: low-risk (single metastatic organ, EBV DNA ≤ 25,000 copies/ml, and ≤ 5 metastatic lesions), intermediate-risk (single metastatic organ, EBV DNA > 25,000 copies/ml, and ≤ 5 metastatic lesions), and high-risk (multiple metastatic organs or > 5 metastatic lesions or both). By comparing LRRT and non-LRRT groups, statistical differences were found in OS in the low-risk and intermediate-risk subgroups (p = 0.039 and p = 0.010, respectively) but no significant difference was found in OS in the high-risk subgroup (p = 0.076). Further multivariate analysis of different risk stratifications revealed that LRRT can improve OS of low- and intermediate-risk subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The risk stratification of dmNPC may be used as a new prognostic factor to help clinicians organize individualized LRRT treatment to improve the survival outcomes of dmNPC patients.

Plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a prospective seropositive population.

OBJECTIVE: Plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is considered a biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, its long-term role in NPC development is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1363 participants seropositive for EBV VCA-IgA and EBNA1-IgA in a community-based NPC screening program in southern China were tested for plasma EBV DNA levels by real-time qPCR between 2008 and 2015. New NPC cases were confirmed by active follow-up approach and linkage to local cancer registry through the end of 2016. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) for NPC risk with plasma EBV DNA. RESULTS: Thirty patients were newly diagnosed during a median 7.5 years follow-up. NPC incidence increased with the plasma EBV DNA load ranging from 281.46 to 10,074.47 per 100,000 person-years in participants with undetectable and ≥ 1000 copies/ml levels; the corresponding cumulative incidence rates were 1.73 and 50%. Furthermore, plasma EBV DNA loads conferred an independent risk for NPC development after adjustment for other risk factors, with HRs of 7.63 for > 3-999 copies/ml and 39.79 for ≥1000 copies/ml. However, the HRs decreased gradually after excluding NPC cases detected in the first 2 to 3 years and became statistically nonsignificant by excluding cases detected during the first 4 years. CONCLUSION: Elevated plasma EBV DNA can predict NPC risk over 3 years. Monitoring plasma EBV DNA can be used as a complementary approach to EBV serological antibody-based screening for NPC.

Percent change in apparent diffusion coefficient and plasma EBV DNA after induction chemotherapy identifies distinct prognostic response phenotypes in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prognostic value of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) derived from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and monitor the early treatment response to induction chemotherapy (IC) with plasma EBV DNA in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). RESULTS: A total of 307 stage III-IVb NPC patients were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent MRI examinations to calculate ADC and plasma EBV DNA measurements pretreatment and post-IC. The participants' ADC value of 92.5% (284/307) increased post-IC. A higher percent change in ADC value (ΔADC%high group) post-IC was associated with a higher 5-year OS rate (90.7% vs 74.9%, p < 0.001) than those in the ΔADC%low group. Interestingly, ΔADC% was closely related to the response measured by RECIST 1.1 (p < 0.001) and plasma EBV DNA level (p = 0.037). The AUC significantly increased when post-IC plasma EBV DNA was added to ΔADC% to predict treatment failure. Thus, based on ΔADC% and plasma EBV DNA, we further divided the participants into three new prognostic response phenotypes (early response, intermediate response, and no response) that correlated with disparate risks of death (p = 0.001), disease progression (p < 0.001), distant metastasis (p < 0.001), and locoregional relapse (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The percentage change in ADC post-IC is indicative of treatment response and clinical outcome. ΔADC% and plasma EBV DNA-based response phenotypes may provide potential utility for early termination of treatment and allow guiding risk-adapted therapeutic strategies for LA-NPC.

[Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder localized to the colon presented with mild diarrhea after cord blood transplantation].

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) usually develops with systemic symptoms, such as fever, generalized lymphadenopathy, and elevation in the lactate dehydrogenase level. Here, we present the case of a 65-year-old female patient with PTLD localized to the colon; the patient only had mild diarrhea without systemic symptoms. She had myelodysplastic syndrome and was treated with cord blood transplantation (CBT). She had a past medical history of sigmoid colon cancer treated with colonosectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. After CBT, she achieved complete remission and was discharged after 60 days. Further, 79 days after CBT, she presented with abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan revealed adhesive ileus. The abdominal pain was resolved in 1 day with conservative treatment, however, mild diarrhea persisted. Therefore, we performed colonoscopy and found multiple ulcerative lesions in the upper colon. A pathological examination revealed PTLD. Furthermore, elevation of EBV-DNA in the blood was also confirmed. There was no detectable lesion on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) outside the colon; thus, we diagnosed PTLD localized into the colon that was successfully treated with rituximab. Our present experience suggests that it might be important to perform endoscopy and monitoring of EBV-DNA for early detection of PTLD, especially localized in the gastrointestinal tract.

Prospective observation: Clinical utility of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA load in EBV-associated gastric carcinoma patients.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric carcinomas (EBVaGCs) may account for 8-9% of all gastric cancer (GC) patients. All previous reports on EBVaGC were retrospective. Prospective study is warranted to evaluate the exact role of EBV status in predicting the prognosis of GC. It is of special interest to figure out whether dynamic detection of plasma EBV-DNA load could be a feasible biomarker for the monitor of EBVaGC. From October 2014 to September 2017, we consecutively collected GC patients (n = 2,760) from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center for EBER examination. We detected EBV-DNA load in plasma and tissue samples of EBVaGC patients at baseline. Subsequently, plasma EBV-DNA load was dynamically monitored in EBVaGC patients. The overall prevalence of EBVaGC is 5.1% (140/2,760). The incidence rate of EBVaGC decreased with advanced AJCC 7th TNM stage (p < 0.001), with the corresponding percentages of 9.3, 9.9, 6.7 and 1.4% for Stage I, II, III and IV patients. EBVaGC patients were predominately young males with better histologic differentiation and earlier TNM stage than EBV-negative GC (EBVnGC) patients. EBVaGC patients were confirmed to had a favorable 3-year survival rate (EBVaGC vs. EBVnGC: 76.8% vs. 58.2%, p = 0.0001). Though only 52.1% (73/140) EBVaGC patients gained detectable EBV-DNA and 43.6% (61/140) reached a positive cutoff of 100 copies/ml, we found the plasma EBV-DNA load in EBVaGC decreased when patients got response, while it increased when disease progressed. Our results suggested that plasma EBV-DNA is a good marker in predicting recurrence and chemotherapy response for EBVaGC patients.

Prognostic Value of Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 Expression in Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Viral Load in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells for Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has a role in the development and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); however, it is unclear whether EBV load correlates with tumor prognosis or the need for immunotherapy. This study evaluated whether the EBV DNA concentration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or programmed cell death-ligand1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) could predict the clinical outcomes of patients with NPC. METHODS: Clinicopathological parameters of 198 patients with NPC were analyzed retrospectively from June 2012 to May 2018. Patients' EBV loads were determined by droplet digital PCR. TIL PD-L1 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: A log value of 1.98 log IU/mL for PBMC EBV DNA and a percentage of PD-L1 expression of 15% in TILs marked distinguishing cutoffs in NPC prognosis. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates in patients with high vs low log (PBMC EBV DNA) were 68.2% and 93.1%, respectively (P = 0.002). The 5-year PFS rates in patients with high vs low TIL PD-L1 expression were 66.3% and 33.7%, respectively (P = 0.03). The 5-year PFS rates of the high-risk group (high log [PBMC EBV DNA] and low TIL PD-L1), low-risk group (low log [PBMC EBV DNA] and high TIL PD-L1), and those in between (intermediate group) were 0%, 91.9%, and 71.4%, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Concentrations of PBMC EBV DNA and TIL PD-L1 expression can be used as prognostic markers in NPC. The combination of both an increased EBV DNA concentration and suppressed TIL PD-L1 expression is associated with metastasis or relapse.

Long-lasting chronic high load carriage of Epstein-Barr virus is more common in young pediatric renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections can induce post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). A chronic high load (CHL), as indicated by long-term high EBV DNA levels after transplantation, has been associated with an enhanced risk of PTLD. We aimed to evaluate incidence, time of occurrence, risk factors, and outcome of EBV CHL carrier state after pediatric renal transplantation. METHODS: A retrospective study of 58 children aged 1-17 years (median 10), who underwent renal transplantation between January 2004 and June 2017 at a single medical center. EBV IgG antibodies in serum were analyzed before and yearly after transplantation. EBV DNA in whole blood were analyzed weekly for the first 3 months post-transplant, monthly up to 1 year and then at least once yearly. CHL was defined as EBV DNA ≥ 4.2 log10 Geq/ml in > 50% of the samples during ≥ 6 months. RESULTS: At transplantation, 31 (53%) patients lacked EBV IgG and 25 (81%) of them developed primary EBV infection post-transplant. Of the 27 seropositive patients, 20 (74%) experienced reactivation of EBV. Altogether, 14 (24%) children developed CHL, starting at a median of 69 days post-transplant and lasting for a median time of 2.3 years (range 0.5-6.5), despite reduction of immunosuppression. Patients with CHL were younger and 11/14 were EBV seronegative at transplantation. No child developed PTLD during median clinical follow-up of 7.8 years (range 0.7-13). CONCLUSIONS: CHL was frequent, long lasting, and occurred mainly in young transplant recipients. The absence of PTLD suggests that monitoring of EBV DNA to guide immunosuppression was effective.