Aim
To assess the frequency of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV16 and HPV18) infections in lung adenocarcinoma samples.
Methods
Lung adenocarcinoma cytological smears and their DNA isolates were obtained from patients hospitalized at the Department for Lung Diseases Jordanovac, Zagreb, in 2016 and 2017. Overall, 67 lung adenocarcinoma samples were examined: 34 with epidermal growth factor receptor gene (
EGFR
) mutations and 33 without
EGFR
mutations. The
EGFR
mutation status and virus presence were assessed with a polymerase chain reaction, and random samples were additionally tested for EBV with Sanger sequencing. HCMV, EBV, HPV16, and HPV18 infections were evaluated in relation to
EGFR
mutation, smoking status, and sex. A meta-analysis of available data about HPV infection in non-small cell lung cancer was performed.
Results
More frequent HCMV, EBV, HPV16, and HPV18 infections were observed in lung adenocarcinoma samples with
EGFR
mutations than in samples without these mutations. Coinfection of the investigated viruses was observed only in lung adenocarcinoma samples with mutated
EGFR
. In the group with
EGFR
mutations, smoking was significantly associated with HPV16 infection. The meta-analysis showed that non-small cell lung cancer patients with
EGFR
mutations had a higher odds of HPV infection.
Conclusion
HCMV, EBV, and high-risk HPV infections are more frequent in
EGFR
-mutated lung adenocarcinomas, which indicates a possible viral impact on the etiology of this lung cancer subtype.