Detection of simian virus 40 DNA sequence in human primary glioblastomas multiforme

Object. Deoxyribonucleic acid oncoviruses can induce neoplastic transformat ion of cells because their viral proteins interfere with antiproliferative cellular proteins. Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a DNA virus that induces the e mergence of ependymomas, choroid plexus tumors, mesotheliomas, osteosarcoma s, sarcomas, and various tumors when injected into newborn hamsters. Recent ly, approximately 60% of human ependymomas, choroid plexus tumors, and meso theliomas were reported to contain and express SV40 DNA sequences. In this study the presence of SV40 DNA sequences was investigated in human brain tu mors. Methods. Three of 32 glioblastomas mutiforme (GBMs), but none of two ependy momas and five medulloblastomas, were found to possess SV40 DNA sequences w hen examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The DNA sequence analys is of PCR-amplified fragments disclosed that the samples were identical to the regulatory region of SV40. All three GBMs, which arose in elderly patie nts with wild-type p53, were considered to be primary (de novo) tumors. Alt hough each of the three tumors was immunohistochemically negative for SV40 T antigen, in situ hybridization successfully demonstrated the messenger RN A for SV40 T antigen. Conclusions. The results of this study indicate that latent infection of SV 40 in elderly people may be implicated in the tumorigenesis of certain prim ary GBMs.