Epstein-Barr Virus: A major concern for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in North East India?

• Dr Swati Sharma,*  
• Anupam Sarma,  
• Shiraj Ahmed,  
• Tashnin Rahman

Abstract

Background: North East part of India carries the highest burden of cancer in whole country. Head and neck cancers are very common and thus are the nasopharyngeal cancers. The etiologies behind nasopharyngeal cancers are mostly related to eating habits (e.g. smoked food), lifestyle habits (e.g. smoking, tobacco chewing), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We take up this study to know the status of nasopharyngeal carcinoma caused by EBV in this part of country. To confirm the status of EBV, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded small RNA in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH) is being selected as the method, which is the gold standard diagnostic method. The EBV positive nasopharyngeal carcinomas are then correlated with their clinic-pathological features. Methods: This is a retrospective cross sectional study conducted in Department of Oncopathology, Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, Assam. The study includes biopsy proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma with EBER-ISH testing done on tumor tissue. Results: There were 53 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) taken in this study. The mean age of NPC was 47.6 years with male predominance. Forty five (84.9%) cases of NPC were EBER-ISH positive. Non keratinizing carcinoma- undifferentiated subtype was the most common histological subtype associated with EBV. Conclusion: A major part of the NPC patients had EBV infection, which also has prognostic implication, hence EBV testing should be the part of routine testing.

Keywords

Epstein Barr virus, EBER-ISH, nasopharyngeal carcinoma