Valproic Acid in the Induction of EBV Lytic Cycle Antigen Expression in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Inclusion Criteria: All subjects must fulfill the following criteria to be eligible for study admission: Subjects are of age 18 years and above Biopsy proven nasopharyngeal carcinoma - WHO type 3 Must have tumor which is accessible to biopsy For patients with disease localized to the PNS, the lesion must be visualized by endoscopy Subjects with metastatic disease with disease accessible to biopsy in the PNS if they are deemed by their treating physicians not to require treatment for at least two weeks. An ECOG performance status of 0-2 For sexually active women of child-bearing potential, negative pregnancy test within 14 days of enrolling on trial Must be able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: For patients with localized NPC, PNS lesions that cannot be visualized by endoscopy Patients with disease inaccessible to biopsy History of anaphylaxis after exposure to valproic acid Hepatic dysfunction as defined by total bilirubin 1.0x upper limit of normal. AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) 3x upper limit of normal Hemoglobin 8g/dl, Absolute neutrophil count 1500 cells/mm, and Platelet count 100,000 /mm Creatinine 3x upper limit of normal PT/PTT blood test result not within normal range Patients who require treatment with an anticonvulsant besides valproic acid during the course of valproate prescribed by the protocol ECOG Performance status 3-4 Patients who are pregnant or breast feeding (Sexually active women of childbearing potential must use contraception during course of therapy and within 4 weeks of completion of trial) Participation in another clinical trial involving therapeutic intervention within 4 weeks of enrollment.