The Department of Chemical Pathology at CUHK established a blood test in 1999 for the detection of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) based on the measurement of the genetic material of EBV (EBV DNA) in plasma. To date, the plasma EBV DNA analysis has been shown to be useful for the detection and monitoring of this cancer in patients presented with clinical symptoms. The test is one of the most accurate blood-based tumor markers currently available.
CUHK is launching a study to further investigate the effectiveness of this blood test for screening early NPC in asymptomatic individuals in July. In this study, 1,000 volunteers aged 40 to 60 who have no clinical symptoms of NPC, do not have a personal history of cancers or immune-related disorders and are not on immunosuppressants will be invited to enroll in a two-year NPC screening programme. During the period, participants will be screened for NPC using the plasma EBV DNA test on three serial time points. Test-positive individuals will be referred to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of CUHK for further investigations, including an endoscopic examination of the nasopharynx, to confirm or exclude NPC. The objective of this study is to demonstrate that this blood test is useful for detecting early NPC in asymptomatic individuals, thereby improving their overall survival.
Community visits in Shatin will be organized from now to November this year for educating the public about NPC and subject recruitment. The general public are welcome to attend the health talk held at 1:00pm-1:30pm at the dates listed below. No prior reservation is needed. After the talk, up to 100 subjects who fulfill the screening criteria of the NPC blood test will be selected by drawing lots in each community visit. Each subject will then be assigned a time slot from 1:30pm to 5:00pm for blood taking on the same day.
|
Date |
Venue |
|
24.8.2008 |
Kwong Yuen Community Hall |
|
31.8.2008 |
Lung Hang Community Centre |
|
20.9.2008 |
Buddhist Kok Kwong Secondary School, Sha Kok Estate |
|
28.9.2008 |
Lung Hang Community Cetre |
|
12.10.2008 |
Buddhist Kok Kwong Secondary School, Sha Kok Estate |
|
19.10.2008 |
City One Shatin Community Hall |
|
26.10.2008 |
City One Shatin Community Hall |
|
2.11.2008 |
District Councillor's Office, Mei Lam Estate |
|
9.11.2008 |
District Councillor's Office, Mei Lam Estate |
Please refer to the following website for the latest update about
the NPC screening programme:
http://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/v7/。
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