SV40-like DNA sequences in pleural mesothelioma, bronchopulmonary carcinoma, and non-malignant pulmonary diseases

Our plain-English summary of SV40-like DNA sequences in pleural mesothelioma, bronchopulmonary carcinoma, and non-malignant pulmonary diseases, by F. Galateau-Salle, P. Bidet, Y. Iwatsubo, et al (The Journal of Pathology, 1998).

The study

• Authors: F. Galateau-Salle, P. Bidet, Y. Iwatsubo, E. Gennetay, A. Renier, M. Letourneux, J.C. Pairon, S. Moritz, P. Brochard, M.C. Jaurand, F. Freymuth
• Journal: The Journal of Pathology
• Published: 1998;184(3):252-7
• Cited by: 66 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

Pleural and pulmonary malignancies are usually associated with well-known carcinogen exposure. Recently, the presence of simian virus 40 (SV40)-like DNA sequences has been detected in brain and bone-related human cancers and in pleural mesothelioma. In order to determine whether SV40-like DNA sequences are also present in bronchopulmonary carcinoma and non-malignant lung samples, 125 frozen pleural and pulmonary samples (including 21 mesotheliomas, 63 bronchopulmonary carcinomas, 8 other tumours, and 33 non-malignant samples) and 38 additional samples distant from tumours were studied for the occurrence of SV40-like DNA sequences by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification followed by hybridization with specific probes. Sequences related to SV40 large T antigen (Tag) were present in 28.6 per cent of bronchopulmonary carcinomas, 47.6 per cent of mesotheliomas, and 16.0 per cent of cases with non-neoplastic pleural and pulmonary disease. No statistically significant difference in the occurrence of these DNA sequences was found between malignant mesothelioma and bronchopulmonary carcinoma, but a significantly higher number of mesothelioma cases exhibited SV40-like DNA sequences in comparison with cases of non-malignant pleural or pulmonary disease (P < 0.04). Among cases positive for SV40-like DNA sequences, a history of asbestos exposure was found in 3 out of 12 bronchopulmonary carcinomas and 8 out of 10 mesotheliomas. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies directed against Tag did not demonstrate nuclear staining. The DNA sequences were not related to BK virus sequences, but three samples were positive with probes hybridizing with JC virus DNA sequences. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the presence of SV40-like DNA sequences in pulmonary neoplasms and in non-malignant lung tissues. It appears that the presence of SV40-like DNA is not unique to cancer.

In plain English

This French laboratory study tested 163 pleural and lung samples for DNA resembling simian virus 40 (SV40). Frozen samples came from cases diagnosed 1992 to 1994; six mesotheliomas were cell lines. They included 21 mesotheliomas, 63 bronchopulmonary carcinomas, 8 other tumours, 33 non-malignant samples, and 38 samples away from tumours. SV40-like DNA was found in 10 of 21 mesotheliomas and 18 of 63 lung carcinomas. It was also found in 4 of 25 non-malignant samples and 3 of 8 organizing pleuritis samples. Mesotheliomas were positive more often than the 33 non-malignant samples (P = 0.04). They did not differ significantly from lung carcinomas or non-malignant pleural disease. Asbestos exposure, judged from work histories, was found in 19 of 21 mesothelioma and 18 of 40 lung carcinoma cases, and was not significantly related to SV40-like DNA. Staining for the viral protein showed no nuclear staining. The authors concluded that their data did not argue for or against a role of SV40 in cancer. Because most SV40-positive mesothelioma cases were highly asbestos-exposed, SV40's role in mesothelioma could not be determined.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Laboratory study of archived frozen tissue samples and cell lines, tested for SV40-like DNA by PCR followed by hybridization with specific probes, with immunohistochemistry and occupational asbestos assessment
• Who was studied: 163 samples from Caen, France. Frozen samples came from the files of the Department of Pathology, CHU de Caen, from cases diagnosed between 1992 and 1994 (not selected). Six additional mesotheliomas were cultured cell lines, and no diagnosis dates are given for them. In all there were 21 mesotheliomas (15 tissue samples and 6 cell lines), 63 bronchopulmonary carcinomas, 8 other tumours, 33 non-malignant samples, and 38 lung and pleural samples distant from tumours.
• Exposure: SV40-like DNA sequences in tissue. Occupational asbestos exposure was assessed from occupational questionnaires for all mesothelioma patients and 40 bronchopulmonary carcinoma patients. Asbestos bodies in lung tissue were also counted. No fiber types are named.
• Main results:
  • SV40-like DNA was detected in 10 of 21 mesotheliomas (47.6 per cent) and 18 of 63 bronchopulmonary carcinomas (28.6 per cent)
  • Among non-malignant samples, SV40-like DNA was detected in 4 of 25 samples from subjects with non-malignant disease and in 3 of 8 organizing pleuritis samples
  • Mesothelioma (n=21) compared with non-malignant disease (n=33): P value 0.04 (chi-square test)
  • Mesothelioma compared with non-malignant pleural disease (n=12): P value 0.28, not significant
  • Mesothelioma compared with bronchopulmonary carcinoma (n=63): P value 0.11, not significant
  • Asbestos exposure was established in 19 of 21 mesothelioma cases and 18 of 40 bronchopulmonary carcinoma cases
  • Among SV40-positive cases, 8 mesotheliomas were exposed to asbestos and 2 were not. Among SV40-positive cases, 3 bronchopulmonary carcinomas were exposed and 9 were not.
  • No significant difference in the frequency of asbestos exposure was found in relation to detection of SV40-like DNA, and no difference was found for lung retention of asbestos bodies (data not shown)
  • SV40-like DNA was detected in 5 of 38 non-malignant lung samples taken from bronchopulmonary carcinoma patients who also provided tumour tissue. No difference was found between tumour samples and samples distant from the tumour.
  • No positive sample hybridized with the BK virus probe; three hybridized with the JC virus probe
  • Immunohistochemistry on 15 mesothelioma and 16 bronchopulmonary carcinoma samples showed cytoplasmic but no nuclear staining for the SV40 large T antigen
  • SV40-like DNA was detected in 8 of 25 polio-vaccinated bronchopulmonary carcinoma patients, and in none of the eight patients born after 1963
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that their data do not argue for or against a role of SV40 in the cancer process, but confirm the presence of SV40-like sequences in human samples, including non-malignant tissue. They wrote that the exact nature and cancer-causing role of these sequences remain to be determined.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • Nearly all SV40-positive mesothelioma cases were highly exposed to asbestos, so the role of SV40 in mesothelioma could not be determined
  • The polio vaccination data were hard to interpret because patients did not remember vaccination dates and routes, and no serological studies could be done
  • Hybridization indices were low compared with positive controls, suggesting very few copies of the sequences in the samples

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Lung cancer, Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: SV40, Pleural Mesothelioma, Carcinoma, Mesothelioma, Malignant Mesothelioma, Asbestos Exposure, Immunohistochemistry, Monoclonal.

Related studies

• Human mesotheliomas contain the simian virus-40 regulatory region and large tumor antigen DNA sequences — H.I. Pass, J.S. Donington, et al. (1998)
• Simian virus (SV) 40 like sequences in cell lines and tumour biopsies from Australian malignant mesotheliomas — B.R. McLaren, T. Haenel, et al. (2000)
• Evidence against a role for SV40 infection in human mesotheliomas and high risk of false-positive PCR results owing to presence of SV40 sequences in common laboratory plasmids — F. López-Ríos, P.B. Illei, et al. (2004)
• Mutations of p53 gene and SV40 sequences in asbestos associated and non-asbestos-associated mesotheliomas — F.G. Mayall, G. Jacobson, et al. (1999)
• Simian virus 40 sequences in blood specimens from healthy individuals of Casale Monferrato, an industrial town with a history of asbestos pollution — C. Pancaldi, V. Balatti, et al. (2009)
• Simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV40LTAg) primer specific DNA amplification in human pleural mesothelioma tissue — C. Pepper, B. Jasani, et al. (1996)

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