Objective: To investigate the expression of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) in tumor tissues of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) and discuss the possibility (feasibility) that LMP2A was selected (to select <of selecting> LMP2A ) as a target antigen in immunologic treatment of NPC.
Method: The expression of EBV LMP2A was detected in the specimens of 40 patients with NPC and 38 cases with nasopharyngeal inflammation by S-P immunohistochemical methods.
Result: Of the 40 NPC specimens, 36 cases expressed LMP2A. There was no significant relationship between the expression of LMP2A and the histological differentiation of NPC. Thirty-three of the 38 cases with nasopharyngeal inflammation showed negative expression of LMP2A. There was a significant difference of LMP2A expression between NPC and nasopharyngeal inflammation.
Conclusion: The expression of EBV LMP2A is confirmed in the NPC specimens,and the negative results are seen in the majority of the inflammation cases. There is a possibility of applying LMP2A target antigen to induce specific immunoreaction to kill tumor cells of NPC.