Screening for herpesvirus genomes in common acute lymphoblastic leukemia

There is epidemiological evidence that infection may play a role in the eti ology of childhood leukemia in particular common B cell precursor acute lym phoblastic leukemia. A panel of 20 leukemic samples (panel 1) was examined for the presence of four lymphotropic herpesviruses using conventional mole cular techniques. A second independent panel of 27 leukemic samples (panel 2), along with 28 control peripheral blood samples from children with other forms of cancer, was tested for the presence of the same four viruses usin g sensitive realtime quantitative PCR, While herpesvirus genomes were detec ted, they were present at very low levels; detection rates and levels were similar in the leukemic and control panels. In addition we surveyed 18 leuk emic samples (five from panel 1, six from panel 2 and a further seven sampl es not previously analyzed) using a degenerate PCR assay capable of detecti ng the genomes of known herpesviruses plus putative new members of the fami ly. No novel herpesvirus genomes were detected suggesting that a herpesviru s is unlikely to be etiologically involved as a transforming agent in commo n acute lymphoblastic leukemia.