@article {7772, title = {Immunologic evidence of a strong association between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and simian virus 40.}, journal = {Cancer}, volume = {121}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Aug 1}, pages = {2618-26}, abstract = {

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.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Antibodies, Viral, Capsid Proteins, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Humans, Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin, Male, Middle Aged, Polyomavirus Infections, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Simian virus 40, Tumor Virus Infections}, issn = {1097-0142}, doi = {10.1002/cncr.29404}, author = {Tognon, Mauro and Luppi, Mario and Corallini, Alfredo and Taronna, Angelo and Barozzi, Patrizia and Rotondo, John Charles and Comar, Manola and Casali, Maria Vittoria and Bovenzi, Massimo and D{\textquoteright}Agostino, Antonio and Vinante, Fabrizio and Rigo, Antonella and Ferrarini, Isacco and Barbanti-Brodano, Giuseppe and Martini, Fernanda and Mazzoni, Elisa} }