Anti-EBV antibody titers in Italian patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

In September 1983 we started the serological examination of all patients with a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) to evaluate whether the association between NPC and EBV is present even in Italy. At present we have data from 60 patients. This paper confirms the presence of the antibodies to EBV in 75% of Italian NPC patients with a significant difference in respect to control groups. Thus, we consider this serological test as a good marker for NPC and especially useful in cases presenting a difficult diagnosis. In our brief experience it seems that the same test is not so useful to indicate healing, stationariness, or the initial relapse of the tumor.