SV40 and the intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the sinus-nasal cavities
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Orthopedic and Traumatology, Occupational Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Aim: It has been demonstrated that most cancers have a multifactorial pathogenesis, including genetic and environmental factors. This is true for those tumors traditionally considered as occupational cancers too. Simian Virus 40 (SV40) has been supposed to play an aetiological role in different tumors like brain tumors, mesothelioma, osteosarcoma and, more recently, also Lymphoma. Among sino-nasal cancers the Intestinal-Type Adenocarcinoma of the nose and sinus (ITAC) has been repeatedly linked to exposure to some occupational carcinogens such as hard wood dust, cromium salts, isopropil alchool, leather dust. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of SV40 Dna sequences in some ITAC samples. Methods: DNA prepared from formalin fixed and paraffin embedded ITAC samples were analyzed by means of PCR using primers which allow the amplification of a SV40 specific sequence within the Regulatory Region Dna. Amplificated DNA was blotted following standard Southern blot protocols. Results: Six samples out of 8 (75%) were positive for the targeted nucleotide sequence. Comments: The prevalence of SV40 Dna sequences observed in tested samples is considerably high even if compared with the other SV40-linked tumors such as mesotheliomas (about 65%) and brain tumors described in medical literature (10 up to 90 % according to the histotype). These results do not necessarly mean that SV40 plays a role in the pathogenesis of this kind of neoplasm either. Further research is needed.
Paper presented at the International Symposium on Predictive Oncology and Intervention Strategies; Nice, France; February 7 - 10, 2004; in poster session 791 (Viral infections).