Comparison of Plasma Metagenomic Next-generation Sequencing and PCR Methods for Epstein–Barr Virus Viral Load Monitoring in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIM: Plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral load measurement is prognostic in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) disease monitoring; however, a consensus measurement approach does not exist. This study characterized the clinical performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), an unbiased sequencing-based assay distinct from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or targeted sequencing approaches, in 73 peripheral blood specimens from 32 patients diagnosed with NPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Samples were analyzed for plasma EBV viral load either by mNGS profiling or PCR-based assays (either LMP2 or BAMHI-W PCR) and compared to tumor presence by clinical assessment. Plasma mNGS-based EBV detection was quantified as reads per million (RPM). RESULTS: Plasma mNGS displayed similar overall performance (100% sensitivity, 86% specificity, 92% accuracy) to BAMHI-W PCR (100% sensitivity, 86% specificity, 94% accuracy) and superior performance to the LMP2 PCR assay (36% sensitivity, 56% specificity, 45% accuracy). In a subset of 13 patients who underwent longitudinal analysis, plasma mNGS EBV RPM correlated with cancer recurrence (95%CI Pre-CRT=232.10±214; 95%CI Post-CRT=0.34±0.32; 95%CI difference=-231.70±214; *p=0.03, paired t-test), suggesting plasma mNGS exhibits potential for monitoring recurrence. CONCLUSION: Plasma mNGS is a distinct method for EBV titer measurement in NPC patients and more broadly, is a promising method for non-invasive monitoring of disease status for infection-associated malignancies.
Source: Anticancer Research
Authors: HARISH N. VASUDEVAN, ANN A. LAZAR, KEVIN REYES, DA RONG, SHAUN AREVALO, SCOT FEDERMAN, JASON W. CHAN, CHARLES Y. CHIU, STEVE MILLER, SUE S. YOM
Institution: University of California, San Francisco
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4404977893