Detection of Epstein‐Barr viral DNA internal repeats in the nasopharyngeal mucosa of chinese with IgA/ebv‐specific antibodies

Fifty-six South Chinese individuals exhibiting IgA antibodies to EBV for 18 months and presenting nasopharyngeal abnormalities were biopsied. Four nasopharyngeal carcinomas, two at a very early stage, were detected. In 14 further individuals, without clinical or histopathological evidence of tumor, EBV/DNA internal repeats and/or EBNA were detected in the biopsied mucosae. The presence of IgA/EBV antibodies and/or EBV markers in the nasopharyngeal mucosa may characterize pre-cancerous conditions.