Infectious Agents and Cancer (Jun 2011)

Human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus infections in breast cancer from chile

  • Eizuru Yoshito,
  • Solís Luisa,
  • Padilla Oslando,
  • Ampuero Sandra,
  • González Carolina,
  • Koriyama Chihaya,
  • Khan Noureen,
  • Aguayo Francisco,
  • Corvalán Alejandro,
  • Akiba Suminori

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1750-9378-6-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 1
p. 7

Abstract

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Abstract Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein Barr virus (EBV) have been found in breast carcinomas (BCs) around the world. In this study, fifty-five BCs from Chile were analyzed for HPV and EBV presence. In addition, HPV-16 viral load/physical status and E6/E7 expressions were determined. Results The amplification of a housekeeping gene showed that 46/55 samples (84%) had amplifiable DNA. HPV-16 was detected in 4/46 BCs (8.7%) and EBV was detected in 3/46 (6.5%) BCs. The analysis of HPV-16 physical status showed that this virus was integrated in all of the tumors with a relatively low viral load (range: 0.14 to 33.8 copies/cell). E6 and E7 transcripts, however, were not detected in any HPV-16 positive specimens. Using a Cox-regression model, we found a statistically significant association between EBV presence and poor survival (p = 0.013). Conclusions The findings in this study suggest that it is unlikely that HPV and/or EBV play a direct role in the etiology of BC.

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