Low prevalence of Merkel cell polyomavirus with low viral loads in oral and maxillofacial tumours or tumour-like lesions from immunocompetent patients: Absence of Merkel cell polyomavirus-associated neoplasms

Abstract

Abstract. It was recently demonstrated that ~80% of Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs) harbour a novel polyomavirus, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). MCPyV has been detected in various human tissue samples. However, previous studies on the prevalence of MCPyV in oral tumours or tumour-like lesions are incomplete. To address this issue, we measured MCPyV DNA quantity using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in 327 oral tumours or tumour-like lesions and 54 jaw tumours or cyst lesions from 381 immunocompetent patients, as well as in 4 oral lesions from 4 immunosuppressed patients. qPCR revealed a low MCPyV prevalence (25/381, 6.6%) with low viral loads (0.00024-0.026 copies/cell) in oral and maxillofacial tumours and tumour-like lesions from immunocompetent patients. The prevalence was 7/176 (4.0%) in invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) [2/60 (3.33%) SCCs of the tongue, 4/52 (7.7%) SCCs of the gingiva and 1/19 (5.3%) SCCs of the floor of the mouth], 1/10 (10%) in dysplasias, 1/5 (20%) in adenocarcinomas, 2/13 (15.4%) in adenoid cystic carcinomas,

No detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus in oral lichen planus: Results of a preliminary study in a French cohort of patients

“…3,4 Finally, conflicting results have been obtained regarding MCPyV DNA detection in malignant tonsillar tumors, oral SCCs, oral leukoplakia, and in a wide variety of oral tumor-like lesions. [5][6][7] The low prevalence of MCPyV in these patients with low viral loads suggests that development of these lesions is not directly related to MCPyV infection and that viral detection in this context was derived from non-neoplastic background tissues. 5 In conclusion, our results do not support the hypothesis that OLP may be associated with MCPyV infection.…”

“…[5][6][7] The low prevalence of MCPyV in these patients with low viral loads suggests that development of these lesions is not directly related to MCPyV infection and that viral detection in this context was derived from non-neoplastic background tissues. 5 In conclusion, our results do not support the hypothesis that OLP may be associated with MCPyV infection. However, we cannot definitely exclude that MCPyV may induce an antigen-specific immune activation, even if the virus is no longer detected in OLP biopsies.…”

“…In addition, MCPyV detection in saliva and oral mucosa has been reported in both healthy and immunocompromised patients . Finally, conflicting results have been obtained regarding MCPyV DNA detection in malignant tonsillar tumors, oral SCCs, oral leukoplakia, and in a wide variety of oral tumor‐like lesions . The low prevalence of MCPyV in these patients with low viral loads suggests that development of these lesions is not directly related to MCPyV infection and that viral detection in this context was derived from non‐neoplastic background tissues …”

“…MCPyV can be detected in healthy and immunocompromised patients in various anatomical sites, including the oral cavity. Moreover, detection of MCPyV DNA has also been recently reported in patients suffering from different forms of oral cancers …”

“…Moreover, detection of MCPyV DNA has also been recently reported in patients suffering from different forms of oral cancers. [3][4][5][6][7] This study aimed to determine whether MCPyV DNA could be detected in a population of patients with OLP. 8…”