The initial studLy of ebna-2 polymorphisms in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Vietnam

Abstract

    Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is the main cause of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC). EBNA-2, one ofthe most important genes participating in the formation of NPC, also helps EBV evade an attack on the immunesystem. EBNA-2 has 4 variants including E2-A, E2-B, E2-C and E-2D, of which E2-A and E2-C are thecharacterized variants for NPC. This study aimed to evaluate the variations of EBNA-2 in NPC biopsy samples ofVietnamese patients. This initial study used 10 biopsy samples, which were positively confirmed to NPC, collectedfrom Cho Ray Hospital. Nested PCR - nucleotide sequencing was applied to analyze the variants of EBNA-2. Theresults showed that 8 out of 10 samples, accounting for 80%, were positive to EBNA-2. Additionally, only twovariants, E-2A and E-2C were detected in our study, in which, E2-A subtype was identified as the predominantsubtype. These findings would provide initial data about potential contribution of EBNA-2 polymorphisms toetiology of NPC in Vietnamese population.