Plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a prospective seropositive population

Plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is considered a biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, its long-term role in NPC development is unclear. A total of 1363 participants seropositive for EBV VCA-IgA and EBNA1-IgA in a communitybased NPC screening program in southern China were tested for plasma EBV DNA levels by real-time qPCR between 2008 and 2015.