Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41917212›Full record

ArticleBritish journal of cancer2026

Incorporating early cfEBV DNA clearance into clinical risk stratification to tailor induction chemotherapy cycles for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Wan-Ping Guo, Xuan Yu, Zi-Jian Lu, Yu-Chen Li, Chun Wu, Li-Wen Gu, Jing-Na Cao, Dong-Hua Luo, Sai-Lan Liu, Ling Guo

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in British journal of cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Wan-Ping Guo *Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China.
Xuan Yu *Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China.
Zi-Jian Lu *Department of Intensive Care Unit, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China.
Yu-Chen LiDepartment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China.
Chun WuDepartment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China.
Li-Wen GuDepartment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China.
Jing-Na CaoDepartment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China.
Dong-Hua LuoDepartment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China. luodh@sysucc.org.cn.
Sai-Lan LiuDepartment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China. liusl@sysucc.org.cn.
Ling GuoDepartment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, PR China. guoling@sysucc.org.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7133-3951

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe optimal number of induction chemotherapy (IC) cycles for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) is debated. This study investigates if early cell-free Epstein-Barr virus (cfEBV) DNA clearance can personalise treatment.

methodsWe included 1590 LA-NPC patients treated with IC+ chemoradiotherapy (2010-2023) with complete early cfEBV DNA data. COX regression identified independent prognostic factors, and receiver operating characteristic curves assessed predictive accuracy. Propensity score matching (PSM) balanced covariates between groups receiving different IC cycles. The primary outcome, progression-free survival (PFS) was analysed using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests.

resultsAfter the first IC cycle, 45.5% of patients had undetectable cfEBV DNA. Combining cfEBV DNA clearance, N-stage, and overall stage yielded the highest AUC for 5-year PFS (0.632). Patients were stratified into high- and low-risk groups (p < 0.001). Post-matching, low-risk patients receiving three IC cycles had better 5-year PFS than those receiving two (85.2% vs. 76.0%, p = 0.024), with no significant increase in grade 3-4 toxicities (30.36% vs. 24.29%, p = 0.157). High-risk patients showed no PFS benefit from additional cycles (63.2% vs. 61.0%, p = 0.960). DISCUSSION: Early cfEBV DNA clearance predicts LA-NPC outcomes. Low-risk patients may benefit from an additional cycle of IC, while high-risk patients may require alternative strategies like immunotherapy or earlier chemoradiotherapy.

Indexed as

DNA, ViralEpstein-Barr Virus InfectionsHerpesvirus 4, HumanInduction ChemotherapyNasopharyngeal CarcinomaNasopharyngeal NeoplasmsAdultAgedChemoradiotherapyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRisk AssessmentDNA, Viral

Identifiers

PMID41917212
PMCPMC13184113

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.