Abstract

ROLE OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AND EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS IN BREAST CANCER

Abdulghani Mohamed Alsamarai*, Shilan Salah Abdula, Zakaria Abdula Alkhaiat

ABSTRACT

Background: The most common cancer among women globally was breast cancer. Viruses may play a role in development of breast cancer. Aim: To determine the association between cytomegalovirus [CMV] and Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] infection and breast carcinoma. Patients and methods: Case control prospective study, which included 148 women with breast carcinoma and 96 apparently healthy women for determination of serum CMV IgG, EBV VCA IgG, EBV EBNA-1 IgG, and heterophile antibodies. Fifteen tumor tissues were used for detection of CMV and EBV using RT-PCR. Results: The mean serum and positivity frequencies of CMV IgG, EBV VCA IgG, EBV EBNA-1 IgG and heterophile antibodies were significantly higher in women with breast cancer as compared to controls. Odd ratio and area under ROC curve confirmed an association between breast cancer and CMV and EBV infections. CMV detected in 20% of breast cancer tissue, while EBV detected in 26.7%. Conclusion: CMV and EBV infection may play a role in development and prognosis of breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer; CMV, EBV, EBNA-1, VCA, IgG.