High Plasma EBV-DNA Load and Positive EBER Status Associated with Viral Recurrence and Persistent Infection in Early Treatment of Lymphoma

Abstract

The relationship between plasma EBV-DNA load (PEDL) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded small RNA (EBER) during early treatment of lymphoma remains unclear. We explored discrepancies in PEDL and variables associated with EBER, and evaluated the consistency between EBER and qualitative analysis of PEDL (qPEDL). Serial measurements of PEDL were performed to determine the dynamic changes of PEDL in early treatment of lymphoma. As a result, the median PEDL of NHL-NKT was higher than that of NHL-B, the median PEDL of ENKTCL was higher than that of DLBCL, and the median PEDL of EBER positive was higher than that of EBER negative. Age, Ki-67 ≧ 80%, Bcl-2 ≧ 80%, p53 and qPEDL were related to EBER. The PEDL could distinguish NHL-B, DLBCL, NHL-NKT and ENKTCL from other lymphoma subtypes. EBER-positive patients spent more time with viral “turn negative (TN)” and “continuous positive (CP)”, and less time with viral “continuous negative (CN)”. The median PEDL of CP was higher than that of TN. In conclusion, although EBER affects the levels of PEDL in general, it has poor concordance with qPEDL. Our results show, for the first time, that high PEDL and positive EBER present a strong association with viral recurrence and persistent infection in the early treatment of lymphoma.