Circulating epstein-barr virus DNA in the serum or plasma of patients for the prediction and detection of epstein-barr virus associated cancers apart from head, neck and lymphoid malignancies

Abstract

The present invention features methods for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring and determining the prognosis of Epstein Barr virus associated cancers apart from head, neck and lymphoid malignancies in a patient by detecting or measuring EBV DNA present in the serum or plasma of the patient. The present invention also features diagnostic kits comprising suitable reagents for detecting EBV DNA in the serum or plasma of a patient.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of determining the increased probability of a patient with increased Epstein Barr virus DNA in blood for the prognosis and diagnosis of Epstein Barr virus associated cancers apart from head, neck and lymphoid malignancies by: 
 (a) obtaining a sample of non-cellular blood-derived fluid from the patient; and    (b) assaying the fluid for the presence or absence of Epstein Barr virus where the presence of the virus is an indication of increased probability of the patient to have Epstein Barr virus associated cancers apart from head, neck and lymphoid malignancies.    
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1  where the patient can be diagnosed with Epstein Barr virus associated cancers apart from head, neck and lymphoid malignancies and the cancer cells are free of EBV nucleic acid.  
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1  where the patient can be diagnosed with Epstein Barr virus associated cancers apart from head, neck and lymphoid malignancies and the cancer cells contain EBV nucleic acid.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the steps of: 
 (1) obtaining a blood sample from a patient;  
 (2) obtaining a fluid fraction from the blood sample;  
 (3) extracting DNA from the fluid fraction; and  
 (4) measuring the amount of circulating EBV DNA present in the fluid fraction.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of: 
 (5) comparing the amount of circulating EBV DNA present in the fluid fraction to a control.  
 
     
     
         6 . A kit for determining the increased probability of a patient with increase EBV DNA in blood for the prognosis and diagnosis of Epstein Barr virus associated cancers apart from head, neck and lymphoid malignancies. 
 (a) nucleic acid for detecting Epstein Barr virus in the blood of patients suffering from; and    (b) instructions for use of the nucleic acid to determine the presence or absence of Epstein Barr virus and an explanation of the increased probability of the patient suffering from Epstein Barr virus associated cancers apart from head, neck and lymphoid malignancies.    
     
     
         7 . A diagnostic kit for detecting EBV DNA in the serum or plasma of a patient comprising reagents suitable for detecting EBV DNA in the serum or plasma.  
     
     
         8 . A diagnostic kit according to  claim 6  comprising a device for obtaining a blood sample from a patient.  
     
     
         9 . A diagnostic kit according to  claim 6  comprising a means to separate EBV DNA from a blood sample.  
     
     
         10 . A diagnostic kit according to  claim 6  comprising a means to quantify the amount of EBV DNA present in the blood sample.