No association between Epstein-Barr Virus and Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus with breast cancer in Mexican women

Sci Rep. 2013 Oct 17:3:2970. doi: 10.1038/srep02970.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy affecting women worldwide. It has been suggested that infection by Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus or a similar virus, MMTV-like virus (MMTV-LV), play a role in the etiology of the disease. However, studies looking at the presence of these viruses in breast cancer have produced conflicting results, and this possible association remains controversial. Here, we used polymerase chain reaction assay to screen specific sequences of EBV and MMTV-LV in 86 tumor and 65 adjacent tissues from Mexican women with breast cancer. Neither tumor samples nor adjacent tissue were positive for either virus in a first round PCR and only 4 tumor samples were EBV positive by a more sensitive nested PCR. Considering the study's statistical power, these results do not support the involvement of EBV and MMTV-LV in the etiology of breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / complications
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse* / genetics
  • Mass Screening
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Mice
  • Middle Aged
  • Population Surveillance
  • Retroviridae Infections / complications
  • Retroviridae Infections / virology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / complications
  • Tumor Virus Infections / virology