Immunologic evidence of a strong association between non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and simian virus 40

• Published in: Cancer Vol. 121; no. 15; pp. 2618 - 2626
• Main Authors: Tognon, Mauro, Luppi, Mario, Corallini, Alfredo, Taronna, Angelo, Barozzi, Patrizia, Rotondo, John Charles, Comar, Manola, Casali, Maria Vittoria, Bovenzi, Massimo, D'Agostino, Antonio, Vinante, Fabrizio, Rigo, Antonella, Ferrarini, Isacco, Barbanti‐Brodano, Giuseppe, Martini, Fernanda, Mazzoni, Elisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Viral - blood; antibody; Capsid Proteins - immunology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; immunology; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - classification; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - immunology; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - virology; Male; Middle Aged; NHL; Polyomavirus Infections - complications; Seroepidemiologic Studies; serum; Simian virus 40; Simian virus 40 - isolation & purification; SV40; Tumor Virus Infections - classification; Tumor Virus Infections - virology; SV40; NHL; antibody; serum; immunology
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.29404

BACKGROUND Non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), the most common cancer of the lymphatic system, is of unknown etiology. The identification of etiologic factors in the onset of NHL is a key event that could facilitate the prevention and cure of this malignancy. Simian virus 40 (SV40) has been considered an oncogenic agent in the onset/progression of NHL. METHODS In this study, an indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay with 2 synthetic peptides that mimic SV40 antigens of viral capsid proteins 1 to 3 was employed to detect specific antibodies against SV40. Serum samples were taken from 2 distinct cohorts of NHL‐affected patients (NHL1 [n = 89] and NHL2 [n = 61]) along with controls represented by oncologic patients affected by breast cancer (BC; n = 78) and undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (UNPC; n = 64) and 3 different cohorts of healthy subjects (HSs; HS1 [n = 130], HS2 [n = 83], and HS3 [n = 87]). RESULTS Immunologic data indicated that in serum samples from NHL patients, antibodies against SV40 mimotopes were detectable with a prevalence of 40% in NHL1 patients and with a prevalence of 43% in NHL2 patients. In HSs of the same median age as NHL patients, the prevalence was 16% for the HS1 group (57 years) and 14% for the HS2 group (65 years). The difference was statistically significant (P < .0001 and P < .001). Interestingly, the difference between NHL1/NHL2 patients and BC patients (40%/43% vs 15%, P < .001) and between NHL1/NHL2 patients and UNPC patients (40%/43% vs 25%, P < .05) was significant. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate a strong association between NHL and SV40 and thus a need for innovative therapeutic approaches for this hematologic malignancy. Cancer 2015;121:2618–2626. © 2015 American Cancer Society. Non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, the most common cancer of the lymphatic system, is of unknown etiology. The data indicate a strong association between non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and simian virus 40 and thus suggest the need for innovative therapeutic approaches for this hematologic malignancy.