Researchers at the University of Hong Kong LKS School of Medicine (HKUMed) have discovered a significant association between specific Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) variants and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). NPC is an especially prevalent cancer in southern China, where it is 20 times more common than in non-endemic regions of the world. The findings, published in the journal More pathogensThey provide the basis for future scientific research and have potential application to population screening and diagnostic testing.
NPC, often called “Cantonese cancer,” predominantly affects men between the ages of 30 and 60 in southern China, including Guangdong and Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia. The cause is associated with several factors, including genetics, environment, and viruses. The researchers emphasize that understanding the role of EBV in the pathogenesis of NPC is crucial since the virus has a 100% association with this cancer.
Background
It has long been known that EBV is closely associated with the development of NPC. However, recent research by senior researchers at HKUMed and Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center has shown that certain EBV variants could raise people’s risk of developing NPC, which is usually diagnosed at a late stage of the disease. Early detection will significantly improve the survival rate and reduce long-term side effects of treatment, underscoring the importance of continued research and public awareness of the factors that contribute to NPC.
Research results and importance.
A research team from HKUMed conducted a genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analysis of two datasets from Hong Kong and one dataset from Guangdong province, comprising a total of 279 and 227 genomic sequences from the EBV derived from NPC patients and healthy population carriers in Hong Kong and South China, respectively. The study revealed that the high-risk EBV haplotype is present in approximately 70% of NPC cases, compared to approximately 30% of the carrier population. The use of nine genetic markers associated with a high-risk EBV lineage could help predict the presence of NPC, thus providing a potential new avenue for the detection and diagnosis of NPC.
Professor Alan Chiang Kwok Shing, principal investigator of the study, from the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, HKUMed Faculty of Clinical Medicine, said the identification of a distinct lineage of high-risk EBV provides valuable information for future studies into the mechanisms. of the disease and the development of NPC-specific screening and diagnostic tests in endemic regions, such as Hong Kong and southern China, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
“By analyzing extensive data sets studied in southern China, we confirmed the association of specific genetic variants near the EBER2 region of the EBV genome with NPC. These high-risk variants are closely linked and form a broader risk haplotype” Professor Chiang added.
About the research team
The study was led by Professor Alan Chiang Kwok Shing and co-investigator Professor Yang Wanling, both from the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, HKUMed Faculty of Clinical Medicine. Key members of the research team are Dr. Wong Ka-wo and Dr. Hui Kwai-fung. Other collaborating researchers include Professor Dora Kwong Lai-wan and Professor Maria Lung Li, both from the Department of Clinical Oncology, HKUMed Faculty of Clinical Medicine.
Expressions of gratitude
The study was funded by the Health and Medical Research Fund of the Health Bureau of the HKSAR Government and supported by the NPC Tissue Bank, under the Areas of Excellence (AoE) Program of the Research Grants Council. , which provided additional NPC samples.