Quantitation of whole blood Epstein-Barr virus DNA is useful for assessing treatment response in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

P>Introduction. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a well-known tumorigenic virus and is associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. Quantitations of EBV viral loads in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells have been reported to be useful biomarkers for monitoring Hodgkin's lymphoma and EBV-associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Methods. In the present study, whole blood specimens were used to determine quantitatively EBV viral loads, which were then compared with clinical data. Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR), EBV-DNA was monitored in whole blood samples from patients with NHL (n = 61) at the time of diagnosis, relapse, and follow-up. Results. A statistically significant correlation was observed between positive EBV viral load and extranodal involvement in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma at the time of diagnosis or relapse (n = 29, P = 0.009). In patients who were serially checked for EBV-DNA levels (n = 16), viral load was found to fall to undetectable levels during complete remission. On the contrary, progressive disease and relapse were found to be associated with sustained or elevated EBV-DNA levels. Conclusion. These results suggest that whole blood EBV-DNA quantitation might be of value as a convenient biomarker for therapeutic responsiveness of NHL.