Differences in serological profiles of Epstein-Barr virus infection in patients with head and neck tumors and lymphomas.
Authors: Zykova Tatiana A. , Shevyakova Elena A. , Pustovaya Irina V. , Lysenko Irina B. , Volkova Viktoriya L. , Chertova Natalia A. , Ulianova Yulia V. , Bauzhadze Mamuka V. , Cherkes Maria A. , Dmitrieva Viktoria V. , Maldonado Mary L. , Gvaramiya Astanda K. 
Published: June 2022

e18055

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with the development of various cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), gastric cancer, and lymphomas. The use of EBV serological markers in screening and monitoring of NPC has been shown to be valuable. The significance of serological markers in the diagnosis of other head and neck cancers is poorly described. The aim of this study was to analyze the serological profiles of EBV infection in patients with head and neck tumors. Methods: The main group included 24 patients with laryngeal cancer (n = 12) and oral mucosa cancer (n = 12). Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma was registered in 22 (91.7%) patients, and adenoid cystic cancer in 2 (8.3%) patients. The control group included 44 lymphoma patients. Antibodies to EBV proteins were determined in the blood serum by ELISA and Western blot (WB) tests. Results: ELISA detected antibodies of the A, M and/or G classes against various EBV proteins in 100% of patients in the main group and 97.7% of controls. IgA VCA in patients with head and neck cancer were determined 2.7 times more often (50% vs 18.2%, p = 0.034) than in patients with lymphomas, IgG EA - 2.1 times more often (58.3% vs 27.3%, p = 0.049), and the complex of acute infection markers (IgA VCA, IgM VCA, IgG EA in various combinations) was determined 2.0 times more often (66.7% vs 34.1%, p = 0.045). Atypical profile (only VCA IgG+) was determined only in patients with lymphomas (4.5%). The profile characteristic of immunosuppression (IgG VCA+, IgG EA+, NA IgG±) was determined 1.8 times more often in patients with head and neck cancer than in patients with lymphomas (25% vs 13.6%, p > 0.05). According to WB tests, patients of the main group more often demonstrated IgM EBNA-1p79 (16.7%), VCA p65 (16.7) and p22 (16.7%), while controls – VCA p22 (27.8%), EA-R p93 (16.7%) and VCA p33 (16.7%). IgG in the main group was more often determined to EBNA-1 p79 (91.7%), VCA p22 (91.7%) and VCA p33 (66.7%), in the control group to VCA p40 (87.5%), EBNA-1 p79 (75%) and VCA p22 (62.5%). Statistically significant differences were found only for VCA p42 (0% in the experimental group and 37.5% in controls, p = 0.049), VCA p40 (25% and 87.5%, p = 0.009) and p27 (0% and 37.5%, p = 0.049). EA-D p45 was determined only in patients with lymphoma. Conclusions: The vast majority of patients in both groups were previously infected with EBV. Serological profiles of EBV infection in patients with head and neck cancer and lymphomas were significantly different. Markers of acute infection were more often determined in patients with head and neck cancer; the range of individual proteins in the main group was narrower than in the control group. The biological meaning of the differences in the detection rates of antibodies to individual EBV proteins in patients of the two groups remains to be elucidated.