Chen WJ, Xu WN, Wang HY, et al. - For nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is considered a biomarker. Researchers herein investigated its long-term role in NPC development. Plasma EBV DNA levels were determined using real-time qPCR in a total of 1,363 individuals who participated, as well as were seropositive for EBV VCA-IgA and EBNA1-IgA, in a community-based NPC screening program in southern China. During a median 7.5 years follow-up, 30 patients were newly diagnosed. Findings suggest the predictive value of raised plasma EBV DNA for NPC risk over 3 years. They suggest a possible utility of monitoring plasma EBV DNA as a complementary approach to EBV serological antibody-based screening for NPC.