An Epidemiological and Molecular Study of the Relationship Between Smoking, Risk of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, and Epstein–Barr Virus Activation

BackgroundElevated levels of antibodies against antigens in the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) lytic phase are important predictive markers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) risk. Several lifestyle factors, including smoking, have also been associated with NPC risk. We hypothesized that some specific lifestyle factors induce transformation of EBV from the latent to the lytic stage and contribute to NPC occurrence.