Evaluation of total and IgA-specific antibody targeting Epstein-Barr virus glycoprotein 350 and nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk

[[abstract]]Background: We previously reported that higher levels of antibody targeting EBV glycoprotein350 (gp350), an EBV vaccine candidate, were protective against nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in genetically high-risk families from Taiwan. The current study attempted to extend this association to a general population cohort. Methods: We compared total and IgA-specific gp350 antibody levels in 35 incident NPC cases and 81 disease-free controls from the Cancer Screening Program in Taiwan (23,943 individuals recruited from 1991-1992). Luciferase immunoprecipitation (LIPS) assays were used to quantify gp350 antibody levels. Results: Total EBVgp350 antibody levels were not higher in individuals who remained disease-free compared to those who developed NPC (P=0.11). This lack of a protective gp350 association persisted for cases diagnosed >5 years (OR=1.05; P=0.91) and <5 years (OR=1.85; P=0.40) after blood draw. In addition, IgA-specific gp350 antibody levels were higher in cases compared to controls (OR=7.03; P=0.001). This increased risk was most pronounced for cases diagnosed