LACK OF ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN POLYOMAVIRUSES WITH HUMAN BRAIN-TUMORS

Brain tumors, primarily glioblastoma multiforme, were examined for the presence of BKV DNA. DNAs extracted from 33 fresh-frozen tumors and f rom an additional 47 paraffin-embedded tumor tissues were tested for B KV sequences using two different primer pairs. One primer pair amplifi ed highly conserved sequences in the early region coding for BKV and J CV T antigens. The other primer pair amplified the regulatory region o f BKV-IR, a variant previously associated with human brain tumors. Non e of the tumors were positive for BKV or JCV DNA.