Molecular evidence of viral DNA in non-small cell lung cancer and non-neoplastic lung

• Published in: British journal of cancer Vol. 115; no. 4; pp. 497 - 504
• Main Authors: Robinson, Lary A, Jaing, Crystal J, Pierce Campbell, Christine, Magliocco, Anthony, Xiong, Yin, Magliocco, Genevra, Thissen, James B, Antonia, Scott
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 09-08-2016; Nature Publishing Group; Springer
• Subjects: 631/326/596/2560; 692/4028/67/1858; 692/420/755; 692/699/67/1612/1350; Adenocarcinoma - complications; Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - virology; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer Research; Carcinogenesis; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - complications; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - metabolism; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - virology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - complications; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - virology; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 - metabolism; DNA, Viral - analysis; Drug Resistance; Epidemiology; Female; Genotype; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Lung - metabolism; Lung - virology; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - complications; Lung Neoplasms - metabolism; Lung Neoplasms - virology; Male; Microarray; Middle Aged; Molecular Medicine; molecular-diagnostics; Non-small cell lung cancer; Oncogenic Viruses - genetics; Oncology; Papillomaviridae; Papillomaviridae - genetics; Papillomavirus Infections - complications; Papillomavirus Infections - metabolism; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Retroviridae - genetics; Retroviridae Infections - complications; Retroviridae Infections - metabolism; Retroviridae Infections - virology; Retrovirus; Tumor Virus Infections - complications; Tumor Virus Infections - metabolism; Tumor Virus Infections - virology; Virus; non-small cell lung cancer; microarray; retrovirus; NSCLC; carcinogenesis; human papillomavirus; virus; HPV
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2016.213

Background:
Although ∼20% of human cancers are caused by microorganisms, only suspicion exists for a microbial cause of lung cancer. Potential infectious agents were investigated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and non-neoplastic lung.
Methods:
Seventy NSCLC tumours (33 squamous cell carcinomas, 17 adenocarcinomas, 10 adenocarcinomas with lepidic spread, and 10 oligometastases) and 10 non-neoplastic lung specimens were evaluated for molecular evidence of microorganisms. Tissues were subjected to the Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array, an oncovirus panel of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping. Associations were examined between microbial prevalence, clinical characteristics, and p16 and EGFR expression.
Results:
Retroviral DNA was observed in 85% squamous cell carcinomas, 47% adenocarcinomas, and 10% adenocarcinomas with lepidic spread. Human papillomavirus DNA was found in 69% of squamous cell carcinomas with 30% containing high-risk HPV types. No significant viral DNA was detected in non-neoplastic lung. Patients with tumours containing viral DNA experienced improved long-term survival compared with patients with viral DNA-negative tumours.
Conclusions:
Most squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas contained retroviral DNA and one-third of squamous cell carcinomas contained high-risk HPV DNA. Viral DNA was absent in non-neoplastic lung. Trial results encourage further study of the viral contribution to lung carcinogenesis.