Genetic hallmarks of NPC are not completely known but include deletion of the p16 (<i>CDKN2A</i>) locus and mutations in NF-κB pathway components, with a relatively low total mutational load.
A combination of RASSF1A and p16 gave good discrimination between NPC and non-NPC, but best results were combined analysis of five methylation markers (RASSF1A, p16, WIF1, CHFR and RIZ1) with detection rate of 98%.
EBV-encoded small RNA-1 (EBER-1) hybridization signals in the NPC showed significant associations with the overexpression of Rb (P=0.000), cyclin D1 (P=0.000), CDK4 (P=0.000), and the loss of expression of p16 proteins (P=0.039).
The positive expression of EBER-1 hybridization signals in NPC had significant associations with overexpressions of p53 (P < .001), p21ras (P = .041), and bcl-2 proteins (P < .001) and loss expression of p16 protein (P = .001).
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is very frequent in southern China, has in previous investigations been found to be associated with a number of risk factors, including a disease susceptibility gene linked to the HLA-region, p53 alleles and deletions of the chromosome 9p21-22 region, which includes the IFNA and p16 loci.