AbstractBACKGROUNDThe detection of tumor‐derived DNA within the circulation of patients with malignant disease using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based strategies has opened a new avenue for the diagnosis and monitoring of these patients. Because of the universal association of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) with the nonsquamous type of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC; World Health Organization types II and III), the detection of cell free EBV DNA in sera from patients with NPC may be a valuable tool for monitoring the progress of tumors or to provide advanced warning of tumor recurrence.METHODSSerum samples were obtained from different patients, and cell free EBV DNA was detected with a conventional PCR approach. A total of 134 patients were sampled, including 36 patients with primary NPC, 28 control patients, 18 patients suffering from locoregional recurrence, 7 patients with distant metastasis, and 45 patients with NPC in clinical remission. A conventional PCR approach employing standard 35‐cycle and 50‐cycle reactions was used to detect cell free EBV genomes. Results from the two PCR cycles were compared to provide a semiquantitative picture of the relative quantity of EBV genome in each serum sample.RESULTSThe EBV DNA detection rates, i.e., the rates of positive detection, for 35‐cycle and 50‐cycle PCR analyses, respectively, were 38.9% and 75% for patients with primary NPC, 3.5% and 10.7% for control patients, 27.8% and 88.9% for patients with locoregional disease recurrence, 71.4% and 100% for patients with distant metastasis, and 7.1% and 36.5% for patients with disease in clinical remission. The rates of positive detection among patients with active disease all appeared to be significantly greater compared with the rates among patients with disease in clinical remission. Longitudinal data for six patients with recurrent tumors revealed a close correlation between the relative quantity of circulating cell free EBV genomes and the disease course of these patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the 50‐cycle PCR analysis for detecting recurrent disease were 92%, 63.5%, 42.6%, and 96.4%, respectively.CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrated that, by using a 50‐cycle PCR‐based approach, high sensitivity and high negative predictive value for detecting recurrent disease can be obtained from the detection of the cell free EBV genome in sera from patients with NPC. The 50‐cycle PCR analysis, therefore, may provide a simple, clinically useful adjuvant method for monitoring patients with NPC. Cancer 2002;94:723–9. © 2002 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.10251