OBJECTIVETo analyze the change of EB virus VCA/IgA and EA/IgA titer during the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and the role in screening for NPC.

METHODSVCA/IgA and EA/IgA were monitored in a period of 12 years by immunoenzymatic titration from the sera of 54 NPC patients after primary serological screening.

RESULTSVCA/IgA and EA/IgA titer had shown gradual increment 1 - 7 years before NPC was pathologically diagnosed. The mean titer of VCA/IgA was 1:21.04, 7 - 4 years before diagnosis. VCA/IgA titer ascended quickly within 3 years before diagnosis. The geometric mean titer (GMT) of VCA/IgA and EA/IgA were 1:76.86 and 1:6.49 when NPC was diagnosed, which descended quickly after radiotherapy and, in 4 years, approached the average titer of VCA/IgA positive population.

CONCLUSIONVCA/IgA titer rises uninterruptedly 3 years before NPC is diagnosed pathologically in most patients but their EA/IgA titer rises slowly. The detection of VCA/IgA titer can be used to find early NPC, whereas EA/IgA can not. The pre-clinical phase of NPC is 3 years according to this dynamic study.