Breast cancer and cytomegalovirus
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A. K. Richardson [1] ; L. C. Walker [2] ; B. Cox [2] ; H. Rollag [3] ; B. A. Robinson [2] ; H. Morrin [2] ; J. F. Pearson [2] ; J. D. Potter [1] ; M. Paterson [5] ; H.-M. Surcel [4] ; E. Pukkala [6] ; M. J. Currie [2]
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[1] University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
Nueva Zelanda
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[2] University of Otago
University of Otago
Nueva Zelanda
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[3] University of Oslo
University of Oslo
Noruega
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[4] University of Oulu
University of Oulu
Oulu, Finlandia
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[5] University of Canterbury Library, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
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[6] Finnish Cancer Registry Institute for Statistical and Epidemiological Cancer Research, Helsinki, Finland
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- Localización: Clinical & translational oncology, ISSN 1699-048X, Vol. 22, Nº. 4, 2020, págs. 585-602
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
Purpose To determine whether cytomegalovirus is causally associated with breast cancer and whether cytomegalovirus should be categorised as an oncogenic virus.
Methods We undertook a review of published epidemiological and laboratory studies, using established causal criteria: Bradford Hill criteria to determine whether cytomegalovirus is associated with breast cancer; and Evans/Mueller criteria to determine whether cytomegalovirus should be categorised as an oncogenic virus.
Results Although there are inconsistencies in the findings of published epidemiological and laboratory studies, these may be explained by factors such as: differences in timing of blood samples, differences in selection of cases and controls, or high cytomegalovirus seroprevalence among participants in the epidemiological studies; and, in the laboratory studies, differences in sample preparations, age of sample, whether or not paired breast cancer and normal breast tissue samples were used, differences in the tests, primers and/or antibodies used, differences in histological types of breast cancer studied, and/or features of the virus.
Conclusions Overall, the results of published studies of cytomegalovirus and breast cancer suggest cytomegalovirus is a causal factor for at least some types of breast cancer. If the evidence for a link between cytomegalovirus and breast cancer continues to strengthen, further research could lead to: targeted screening; therapy using antiviral drugs; and, perhaps, primary prevention of a significant proportion of breast cancer. Vaccination against viruses has already been shown to be effective in preventing cervix and liver cancer; cytomegalovirus vaccines are already under development.
