Early diagnosis and effective therapy are the fundamental challenge for modern oncology. Hence, many researchers focus on the search for new or improved biomarkers. Due to the great importance of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in physiological and pathological processes, we focused on assessing its usefulness as a biomarker in OPSCC. The purpose of the research presented here was to evaluate the prevalence and the level of NF-κB in the serum of OPSCC patients (ELISA). Serum NF-κB levels were also assessed depending on the degree of histological differentiation of the tumor and TN classification. Additionally, we considered the existence of a correlation between the concentration of NF-κB and EBV antibody titers, viral load and selected MMPs—MMP3 and MMP9. Taken together, the obtained results demonstrated that NF-κB level was significantly higher among patients with EBV-related OPSCC than among those without EBV. In addition, the level of NF-κB was significantly higher in more advanced clinical stages. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the concentration of NF-κB and the level of selected EBV antibodies, viral load and both tested MMPs. The diagnostic accuracy of NF-κB was confirmed by ROC analysis.
早期诊断与有效治疗是现代肿瘤学的核心挑战。因此，许多研究者致力于寻找新型或改进的生物标志物。鉴于核因子κB（NF-κB）在生理及病理过程中的重要作用，本研究重点评估其作为口咽鳞状细胞癌（OPSCC）生物标志物的应用价值。本研究旨在通过酶联免疫吸附法检测OPSCC患者血清中NF-κB的阳性率及表达水平，并分析其与肿瘤组织学分化程度、TNM分期的相关性。同时，我们还探讨了NF-κB浓度与EBV抗体滴度、病毒载量以及特定基质金属蛋白酶（MMP3和MMP9）之间的关联性。研究结果显示：EBV相关OPSCC患者的血清NF-κB水平显著高于非EBV感染者；临床分期越晚，NF-κB表达水平越高；NF-κB浓度与特定EBV抗体水平、病毒载量及两种检测的MMPs均呈正相关。通过受试者工作特征曲线分析，进一步证实了NF-κB的诊断准确性。
Serum NF-κB in Epstein–Barr Virus-Related Oropharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnostic Usability
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家