Epstein Barr virus genome in nasopharyngeal carcinomas from New Zealand

Background The population in New Zealand is a heterogeneous mix of Caucasians (80%), Maori (9%), and Polynesians (10%). It is believed that the Polynesians are of Chinese descent and may harbor the same high incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In addition, it is not known whether the Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) is as closely associated with the development of NPC in Polynesians as it is in those of Chinese origin. Methods This study reexamines the associative correlation between EBV and NPC with two methods of genetic detection, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in‐situ hybridization (ISH). In addition, geographic heterogeneity was analyzed to determine whether there are differences in the prevalence of EBV in NPCs among the ethnic mixed populations found in New Zealand. Nasopharyngeal biopsy specimens from 20 patients with NPC and 36 controls were obtained from Auckland. Results With PCR, EBNA‐1, a genomic sequence of EBV in NPC samples was able to be detected with 76.5% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity. By use of ISH, EBV was detected in NPC tissue with 82.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Conclusion There seems to be no geoanthropologic differences in terms of the association of EBV with NPC. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 22: 505–508, 2000.