Presence of HPV, EBV and HMTV Viruses Among Egyptian Breast Cancer Women: Molecular Detection and Clinical Relevance

BACKGROUND: Oncogenic viruses, their possible association with breast cancer (BC) and effect on its clinical course are interesting issue. The present study evaluates the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), EpsteinBarr virus (EBV), and human mammary tumor virus (HMTV) in BC and their relation with clinico-pathological characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 80 Egyptian women with BC and 30 control women without known oncological disease. Forty formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, forty fresh tissue samples, and white blood cells (WBCs) of BC patients and WBCs of controls were subjected to a qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure viral loads in fresh tissues of BC. The result was correlated with clinico-pathological characteristics of BC. RESULTS: HPV was detected in 33 (41.25%), EBV in 30 (37.5%) and HMTV in 33 (41.25%) BC patients. None of the control women was positive for HPV or EBV while HMTV was detected in 7 (23.3%). Among 40 BC WBCs specimens, HPV/HMTV were found together in 25%, followed by EBV/HMTV in 2.5% and EBV/HPV in 2.5%. However, the three viruses (HPV/EBV/HMTV) were found together in only 5%. In the 40 fresh BC tissues, the three viruses were found together in 12 (30%), EBV/HMTV in 7 (17.5%), HPV/HMTV in 4 (10%), and HPV/EBV in 4 (10%). EBV, HMTV, or multiple viral infections were associated with younger age of BC women. HPV, EBV, and HMTV median loads in fresh tissues were 4.8×10(3) copies/μL, 6.3×10(3) copies/μL, and 97 copies/μL, respectively. CONCLUSION: WBCs could be a more suitable specimen instead of fresh tissue for HMTV detection in BC patients to avoid invasive procedures. The presence of HPV, EBV, and HMTV together in Egyptian women with BC was significantly associated with younger age.