Table 2.
Pretreatment cfEBV DNA levels and absolute drop of cfEBV DNA during the course of treatment for the different subgroups
| cfEBV DNA response phenotypes | Pretreatment cfEBV DNA (median, IQR) | Absolute cfEBV DNA drop during treatment (×103 copies/ml; median, IQR) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC1 phase | IC2 phase | IC3 phase | IC4 phase | CCRT phase | ||
| cfEBV DNA response groups | ||||||
| G1 | 6.1 (1.2 to 20.5) | 6.1 (1.2 to 20.5) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) |
| G2 | 14.7 (2.0 to 98.5) | 10.9 (0.4 to 79.1) | 1.7 (0.6 to 7.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) |
| G3 | 17.2 (2.3 to 62.0) | 13.4 (0.1 to 49.7) | 3.8 (1.0 to 12.9) | 1.5 (0.5 to 4.3) | 0.8 (0.2 to 1.7) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) |
| G4 | 16.2 (5.2 to 68.5) | 7.7 (1.7 to 42.3) | 1.5 (−0.2 to 6.9) | — | — | 1.9 (0.5 to 7.5) |
| G5 | 41.1 (6.7 to 130.0) | 19.2 (2.0 to 77.9) | 4.0 (0.6 to 16.2) | 1.4 (0.4 to 6.0) | 1.0 (−2.3 to 1.1) | 1.9 (0.4 to 7.0) |
| G6 | 6.9 (1.9 to 25.0) | 6.6 (1.3 to 23.3) | 0.0 (−0.5 to 0.7) | 0.0 (−0.5 to 0.7) | 0.0 (−0.3 to 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.6) |
| G7 | 18.1 (5.6 to 53.3) | 15.5 (3.4 to 38.8) | 0.3 (0.0 to 3.2) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) | −0.2 (−0.8 to 0.1) |
| G8 | 39.2 (11.2 to 201.0) | 9.5 (2.0 to 121.0) | 5.1 (1.2 to 27.4) | 3.0 (0.4 to 7.8) | 1.6 (0.2 to 4.1) | 0.9 (−2.6 to 24.5) |
| cfEBV DNA phenotypic clusters | ||||||
| Cluster 1 | 6.1 (1.2 to 20.5) | 6.1 (1.2 to 20.5) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.0) |
| Cluster 2 | 14.4 (3.0 to 55.6) | 9.0 (0.8 to 41.3) | 1.4 (0.1 to 5.8) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.9) | 0.0 (0.0 to 0.9) | 0.0 (0.0 to 1.0) |
| Cluster 3 | 41.1 (6.7 to 130.0) | 19.2 (2.0 to 77.9) | 4.0 (0.6 to 16.2) | 1.4 (0.4 to 6.0) | 1.0 (−2.3 to 1.1) | 1.9 (0.4 to 7.0) |
| Cluster 4 | 29.8 (8.2 to 100.4) | 11.5 (2.8 to 72.3) | 3.0 (0.2 to 19.2) | 1.3 (0.0 to 7.1) | 1.3 (0.0 to 2.3) | −0.2 (−0.9 to 10.2) |
cfEBV DNA cell-free Epstein–Barr virus deoxyribonucleic acid, CCRT concurrent radio-chemotherapy, IC induction chemotherapy, IQR interquartile range
Note: G1, cBR post-IC1 without bounce; G2, cBR post-IC2 without bounce; G3, cBR post-IC3–4 without bounce; G4, cBR post-CCRT+IC2; G5, cBR post-CCRT+IC3–4; G6, temporary bounce with cBR post-CCRT; G7, persistent bounce with non-cBR post-CCRT; G8, persistent DNA. Cluster 1, early responders; Cluster 2, intermediate responders; Cluster 3, late responders; Cluster 4, treatment-resistance