Human Cytomegalovirus Protein Expression Is Correlated with Shorter Overall Survival in Breast Cancer Patients: A Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is increasingly suggested to be involved in human carcinogenesis and onco-modulation due to its ability to contribute to all hallmarks of cancer. Growing evidence demonstrates a link between HCMV infection and various malignancies, including breast cancer, which incidence and mortality are still on the rise. The etiology of breast cancer remains mostly unclear, leaving 80% of breast cancer cases considered to be sporadic. Identifying novel risk- and prognostic factors for improved breast cancer treatment and increased survival rates, were the objectives of this study. Methods: Automated immunohistochemical staining results for HCMV proteins in 109 breast tumors and lymph node metastasis were correlated with clinical follow-up data (>10 years). Statistical analyses for median Overall Survival (OS) were performed. Results: Survival analyses revealed shorter median OS for patients with HCMV-IE positive tumors of 118.4 months compared to 202.4 months for HCMV-IE negative tumors. A higher number of HCMV-LA positive cells in the tumors was also associated with a shorter OS in patients (146.2 months vs. 151.5 months). Conclusions: Our findings suggest a link between HCMV-infections and breast cancer prognosis, which paves the way for potential novel clinical intervention and targeted therapy that may prolong the overall survival of selected patients with breast cancer.

Human Cytomegalovirus Oncoprotection across Diverse Populations, Tumor Histologies, and Age Groups: The Relevance for Prospective Vaccinal Therapy

“…An adverse effect of CMV was also noted elsewhere regarding the same pathology [76]. Furthermore, viral protein expression was found to relate to shorter overall survival in patients with breast cancer [77]; CMV IE2 gene expression was also associated with this tumor [78]. In a recent study by Paradowska and colleagues, a significant proportion (70%) of epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC) contained CMV DNA; moreover, the pathogen was significantly more prevalent in EOC than in benign tumors [79].…”

Detection of Human cytomegalovirus UL55 Gene and IE/E Protein Expression in Colorectal Cancer Patients in Egypt

“…reported in 2 studies higher prevalence of HCMV IE DNA and protein expression in CRC and breast cancer and their metastases to the brain with poor outcome [ 30 , 31 ]. Recently, two studies reported that HCMV gB DNA detection or expression of HCMV IE in breast cancer was found to be associated with shorter survival [ 32 , 33 ]. HCMV IE and E proteins were always detected in the cytoplasm in this study.…”

Worldwide Human Cytomegalovirus Oncoprotection across Diverse Populations, Tumor Histologies and Age Groups: Paving the Way for Innovative Cancer Therapies

“…An adverse effect of CMV was also noted elsewhere regarding the same pathology [76]. Furthermore, viral protein expression was found to relate with shorter overall survival in patients with breast cancer [77]; CMV IE2 gene expression was also associated with this tumor [78]. In a recent study by Paradowska and colleagues, a significant proportion (70%) of epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC) contained CMV DNA; moreover, the pathogen was significantly more prevalent in EOC than benign tumors [79].…”