Conventional and novel diagnostic biomarkers and approaches for detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is key to curing or improving the prognosis of this disease. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is an etiological factor for NPC, and as such, EBV and its expression products are also unique NPC biomarkers, since EBV rarely infects normal epithelial cells and EBV in NPC cells exhibits a different expression profile to that observed in persistently infected B cells. It is important to strategize the use of EBV serology and tests for plasma EBV DNA and the newly identified extracellular EBV microRNAs to optimize the sensitivity and specificity of NPC detection. Exploration of novel approaches, such as assessing methylation, telomere lengths, and circulating tumor cells, which are being used in other cancers, will provide additional advances in NPC detection and management. This chapter focuses on reviewing current diagnostic methods and discussing new strategies for using viral and cellular biomarkers for early recognition and management of NPC.