Changes in plasma EBV-DNA and immune status in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after treatment with intensity-modulated radiotherapy

• Main Authors: Qi Chen, Wei Hu, Huacai Xiong, Shenpeng Ying, Yanyun Ruan, Bo Wu, Hongsheng Lu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019-03-01
• Series: Diagnostic Pathology
• Subjects: Plasma EBV-DNA; Intensity-modulated radiotherapy; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; PD-1; Treg cells
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13000-019-0798-0

Abstract Background Previous studies reported the early diagnostic values of plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-DNA. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between the concentration of plasma EBV-DNA and the number of CD8+PD-1+(programmed cell death-1,PD-1) and regulatory T (Treg) cells in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who were treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods This study included 37 patients treated with IMRT. Peripheral blood samples were collected two times for each patient, before radiation therapy and 1 week after the treatment. Further, the numbers of CD4+, Treg, CD8+, and CD8+PD1+ cells were determined by flow cytometry. Results The changes after IMRT were determined by comparing the numbers of neutrophils, lymphocytes, CD4+, Treg, CD8+, CD8+PD1+ cells, and the concentration of plasma EBV-DNA between pretreatment and post-treatment groups. IMRT could reduce the expression level of PD-1 and the number of Treg cells. The concentration of plasma EBV-DNA and the expression level of CD8+PD-1+ were closely associated with the occurrence and development of NPC. Thus, EBV-DNA can be used as an important marker for early diagnosis, and IMRT can strongly reduce the copies of EBV-DNA. Conclusions This study showed that IMRT could reverse T-cell exhaustion and reduce the copies of EBV-DNA. In clinical practice, plasma EBV-DNA is a sensitive biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluation of clinical efficacy.