Eb-virus associated serology in malignant disease: antibody levels to viral capsid antigens (vca), membrane antigens (ma) and early antigens (ea) in patients with various neoplastic conditions

Abstract

Two hundred and forty-nine sera derived from African donors suffering from a variety of malignant diseases were examined for EBV-related antibody levels. When divided into three major subgroups (lymphoproliferative tumours, carcinoma and sarcoma) none of the mean titres approached the high anti-VCA, anti-MA or anti-EA levels characteristic for Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) or nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). On breaking down the material further into specific diagnostic or pathological subgroups, similar low mean values were found, except for small groups of plasma cell tumours and carcinomas of the palate (with high anti-VCA and anti-MA) and osteogenic sarcoma (with moderately high anti-MA). The data do not support a regular association of high anti-EBV titres with malignant disease in general and thus reaffirm the special position of BL and NPC in this respect.