Reactivation of human neurotropic JC virus expressing oncogenic protein ina recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

Examination of the primary tumor of glioblastoma multiforme and its recurre nce for their association with JC virus revealed that, while the viral geno me is present in both initial and recurrent tumors, expression of the viral oncoprotein T-antigen occurs only in the recurrent tumor cells. Accordingl y, the level of inducible cellular transcription factors, including the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB and YB-1, which have the ability to stimulate JCV gen e expression, was found to be higher in the recurrent tumor cells. These ob servations suggest that induction of the regulatory factors after resection of the primary tumor may have reactivated JC virus gene expression and led to redevelopment of the tumor in brain.