ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) can be successfully treated by radiotherapy, if the tumor is confined to nasopharynx, but clinical onset is usually delayed to more advanced stages, when prognosis is poor. The objective is to determine efficacy of a new program for early NPC detection, which entails stratification of the NPC risk of target population according to serum levels of 3 Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) antibodies.@*METHOD@#The sera of 1373 healthy adult residents from Zhongshan were collected and analyzed in this study from Mar 16, 2007 to Dec 31, 2007. The levels of EBNA1/IgA, zta/IgG and EBNA1/IgG were tested by ELISA. To stratify the subjects of 1373 adults into high, moderate and normal NPC risk groups by regression analysis of the levels of the EBV antibody. The high-risk groups of nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk could be followed-up every 3-6 month.@*RESULT@#NPC risk of 1379 adults was stratified according to serum levels of the 3 EBV antibodies. Eleven (0.8%) were identified to be of high risk for NPC, having high levels of all three antibodies and/or IgA EBNA level > 3 rod. Clinical examination of high risk subjects detected 5 NPC cases, 3 cases detected in the first instance and 2 in follow-up examination 3 to 6 months hence. Three cases were diagnosed with UICC Stage I tumor (60%), one in the first instance and 2 in follow-up, and the 5 cases account for all NPC cases detected from the entire cohort over 28 months(100%).@*CONCLUSION@#The new program affords an efficient and efficacious means for early NPC detection.