Prognostic value of the EpsteinuBarr virus and tumor suppressor gene p53 gene in nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Aims and Methods: Retrospectively, this paper compared the differences of the EpsteinuBarr virus (EBV)-encoded small RNAs (EBERs), protein expression and gene mutations of tumor suppressor gene p53 (TP53) in keratinized nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (KNSCC) and nonKNSCC, and the relationships between pathological features and the prognosis of patients were analyzed. Results: The positive rate of EBERs hybridization and TP53 expressions was 76.3% and 52.2%, respectively, while the mutation rate of TP53 gene was 39.6%. Logistic regression analysis showed direct relationships between the subtypes of nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (NPSCC) and EBERs-positive, or frequent consumption of pickled food. Overall survival rates of patients with positive TP53 expression, the TP53 gene mutations, vascular invasions, organ metastases, lymph node metastasis, and clinical recurrence were significantly lower than those of patients without those symptoms. The poorer prognosis was related to regularly drinking and the advanced age. According to the Cox regression analysis, we found that the main prognostic factors of NPSCC patients were the aging, recurrence, TP53 gene mutations, especially exon 7 or 8 mutations. Conclusions: We concluded that there were the correlations between NPSCC subtypes with EBV infection and frequent intaking of pickled food, while aging, clinical recurrence, and TP53 gene mutations were independent predictors for the poor prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.