Abstract Background The association of circulating inflammation markers with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is still largely unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively explore the relationship between circulating cytokine levels and the subsequent risk of NPC with a two‐stage epidemiologic study in southern China. Methods The serum levels of 33 inflammatory cytokines were first measured in a hospital‐based case–control study (150 NPC patients and 150 controls) using multiplex assay platforms. Marker levels were categorized into two or more groups based on the proportion of sample measurements that was above the lower limit of detection. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) relating the serum marker concentration to the risk of NPC were computed by multivariable logistic regression models. The associations were validated in 60 patients with NPC and 120 controls in a subsequent nested case–control study within a NPC screening trial. Potential interactions between serum cytokines and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) relating to the risk of NPC were assessed using a likelihood ratio test. Results The levels of serum macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐1α and MIP‐1β in the highest categories were associated with a decreased risk of NPC in both the case–control study (MIP‐1α: OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.26–0.95; MIP‐1β: OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.22–1.00) and the nested case–control study (MIP‐1α: OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.03–0.62; MIP‐1β: OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.04–0.94), compared with those in the lowest categories. Furthermore, individuals with lower levels of these two cytokine markers who were EBV seropositive presented with a largely higher risk of NPC compared with patients with higher levels who were EBV seronegative in both the case–control study (MIP‐1α: OR = 16.28, 95% CI = 7.11–37.23; MIP‐1β: OR = 12.86, 95% CI = 5.9–28.05) and the nested case–control study (MIP‐1α: OR = 86.12, 95% CI = 10.58–701.03; MIP‐1β: OR = 115.44, 95% CI = 13.92–957.73). Conclusions Decreased preclinical MIP‐1α and MIP‐1β levels might be associated with a subsequently increased risk of NPC. More mechanistic studies are required to fully understand this finding.
<p>Supplementary Tables 1-4. Supplementary Table 1. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) associated with oral health among ever smokers in southern China (2010-2014). Supplementary Table 2. Stratified odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) associated with number of teeth lost after age 20 years.* Supplementary Table 3. Stratified odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) associated with frequency of tooth brushing.* Supplementary Table 4. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) associated with oral health in southern China - restricted to cases interviewed within 30 days of diagnosis (2010-2014).</p>
Abstract BackgroundAdiponectin is an adipocyte-secreted cytokine that enhances insulin sensitivity and attenuates inflammation. Although circulating adiponectin level is often inversely associated with several malignancies, its role in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the clinical association between circulating adiponectin level and NPC, and examined the impact of adiponectin, as well as the underlying mechanisms, on NPC growth both in vitro and in vivo .MethodsThe association between circulating adiponectin level and the risk of developing NPC was assessed in two different cohorts, including a hospital-based case-control study with 152 cases and 132 controls, and a nested case-control study with 71 cases and 142 controls within a community-based NPC screening cohort. Tumor xenograft model, cell proliferation and cycle assays were applied to confirm the effects of adiponectin on NPC growth in cultured cells and in xenograft models. We also investigated the underlying signaling mechanisms with various specific pharmacological inhibitors and biochemistry analysis.ResultsHigh adiponectin levels were associated with a monotonic decreased trend of NPC risk among males in both the hospital-based case-control study and a nested case-control study. In vitro , adiponectin significantly inhibited NPC cell growth and arrested cell cycle, which were dependent on AMPK signaling pathway. The growth of xenograft of NPC tumor was sharply accelerated in the nude mice carrying genetic adiponectin deficiency. An adiponectin receptor agonist, AdipoRon, displayed strong anti-tumor activity in human xenograft models. ConclusionsThese findings demonstrated for the first time that circulating adiponectin is not only inversely associated with NPC, but also controls the development of NPC via AMPK signaling pathway. Stimulation of adiponectin function may become a novel therapeutic modality for NPC.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation from latent to lytic infection has been considered as a key step in nasopharyngeal carcinoma oncogenesis. However, epidemiological evidence regarding environmental risk factors for EBV reactivation on a population level remains largely lacking.We enrolled 1916 randomly selected adults from the general population of Guangdong and Guangxi, China, from 2010 to 2014. Information on environmental factors was collected via a structured interview. Serum immunoglobulin A antibodies against EBV viral capsid antigen and nuclear antigen 1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate EBV reactivation status. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of EBV reactivation with various environmental factors.No associations were observed between EBV reactivation and extensive environmental factors, including alcohol or tea drinking, a history of chronic ear/nose/throat diseases, use of medications or herbs, consumption of salted fish or preserved foods, oral hygiene, sibship structure, and various residential and occupational exposures. Only cigarette smoking was associated with EBV reactivation (current smokers vs never smokers; OR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.02-1.83), with positive exposure-response trends with increasing intensity, duration, and pack-years of smoking.Consistent with previous studies, we found an association between cigarette smoking and EBV reactivation. Other examined exposures were not associated with EBV reactivation. These null results could suggest either more complex interactions between exposures and EBV reactivation or a predominant role of host and/or viral genetic variation.
Southern China is an endemic area for primary liver cancer (PLC), but it is unclear if rates have changed in recent decades. We evaluated PLC incidence and estimated the effects of age, period of diagnosis, and birth cohort in Sihui City, Guangdong Province, China. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) of PLC were examined for both males and females from 1987 to 2011. Joinpoint regression analysis was conducted to estimate the annual percent changes in PLC incidence. The age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to investigate the effects of age, diagnosis period, and birth cohort on the relative risk (RR) of PLC. A total of 2988 PLC cases were identified in this period, with average ASRs of 51.1/100,000 for males and 11.7/100,000 for females. Joinpoint regression analysis revealed increasing PLC incidence throughout the entire period in both males (average annual change of 1.65 %) and females (0.20 %). RRs increased gradually in both sexes from the youngest age group (30–34 years) to the oldest (80–84 years). In males, the RR decreased during diagnosis period from 1987–1991 to 1997–2001 and remained stable thereafter. In females, RRs fluctuated with diagnosis period throughout the entire period. Incidence tended to increase with birth cohort from 1905–1909 to 1975–1979 in both males and females; however, female incidence plateaued in the youngest cohorts born between 1955 and 1974, while incidence in males increased sharply in the cohorts born between 1965 and 1974. According to APC analysis, the full age-period-cohort (APC) model fit the data best, and the period-cohort (PC) model would be enough to explain variability of rates in females. The PLC incidence rate in males of Sihui City has increased more significantly than female over the last 25 years. Despite the age effect in male, this trend mainly reflects the effects of risk factors that are present in early life (birth cohort) and period change in both genders.
BACKGROUND The potential role of occupational exposures in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear, particularly in high‐incidence areas. METHODS The authors conducted a population‐based case‐control study, consisting of 2514 incident NPC cases and 2586 randomly selected population controls, in southern China from 2010 to 2014. Occupational history and other covariates were self‐reported using a questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of NPC associated with occupational exposures. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate potentially nonlinear duration‐response relations. RESULTS Individuals who had exposure to occupational dusts (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.26‐1.68), chemical vapors (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.17‐1.61), exhausts/smokes (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.25‐1.60), or acids/alkalis (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.30‐1.89) in the workplace had an increased NPC risk compared with those who were unexposed. Risk estimates for all 4 categories of occupational exposures appeared to linearly increase with increasing duration. Within these categories, occupational exposure to 14 subtypes of agents conferred significantly higher risks of NPC, with ORs ranging from 1.30 to 2.29, including dust from metals, textiles, cement, or coal; vapor from formaldehyde, organic solvents, or dyes; exhaust or smoke from diesel, firewood, asphalt/tar, vehicles, or welding; and sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and concentrated alkali/ammonia. CONCLUSIONS Occupational exposures to dusts, chemical vapors, exhausts/smokes, or acids/alkalis are associated with an excess risk of NPC. If the current results are causal, then the amelioration of workplace conditions might alleviate the burden of NPC in endemic areas. LAY SUMMARY The role of occupational exposures in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear, particularly in high‐incidence areas. The authors conducted a population‐based study with 2514 incident NPC cases and 2586 population controls in southern China and observed that occupational exposures were associated with an increased risk of NPC. Duration‐response trends were observed with increasing duration of exposure. These findings provide new evidence supporting an etiologic role of occupational exposures for NPC in a high‐incidence region.
To explore the characteristic of genetic epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in a high risk area Guangdong province, China.Population investigation was made on the nuclear pedigrees of the first patient with NPC and his/her spouse, and then complex segregation analysis was performed using regressive Logistic model.The risk of suffering from NPC is 9.31 times higher in the first degree relatives of patient with NPC than in the first degree relatives of spouse. The separation ratio and heritability are 0.0588 (0.0182, 0.0994) and 68.08% respectively. The result of complex segregation analysis shows that model D is better than model A.The genetic trend and familial clustering of NPC are more significant and powerful in Guangdong. The risk of suffering from NPC is related with parent's state and senior sibling's state. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a multi-gene hereditary disease, but a single gene that decides the susceptibility to NPC may be present.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human oncogenic gammaherpesvirus that infects over 90% of humans in the world and is causally associated with a spectrum of epithelial and B-cell malignancies such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A prophylactic vaccine against EBV is called for, but no approved vaccine is available yet.
Abstract Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with a range of epithelial and B cell malignancies as well as autoimmune disorders, for which there are still no specific treatments or effective vaccines. Here, we isolated EBV gH/gL-specific antibodies from an EBV-infected individual. One antibody, 1D8, efficiently neutralized EBV infection of two major target cell types, B cells and epithelial cells. In humanized mice, 1D8 provided strong protection against a high-dose EBV challenge by substantially reducing viral loads and associated tumor burden. Crystal structure analysis revealed that 1D8 binds to a key vulnerable interface between the D-I/D-II domains of the viral gH/gL protein, especially the D-II of the gH, thereby interfering with the gH/gL-mediated membrane fusion and binding to target cells. Overall, we identified a potent neutralizing antibody as a promising candidate for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions against EBV infection. The key vulnerable site also provides insights into the EBV vaccines design.