Absence of polyoma virus gene sequences in tumor specimens of pediatric malignancies

The role of viruses in the pathogenesis of certain types of human neoplasia is well documented. The human polyoma viruses BKV and JCV and the simian polyoma virus SV40 have been associated with malignant tumors in humans. The involvement of SV40 has been described in cases of osteosarcoma and the presence of BKV has been reported in neuroblastoma, thus implicating the polyomaviruses (PoV) in the pathogenesis of pediatric tumors.

We have therefore screened over 350 diagnostic specimens derived from 14 different pediatric malignancies for the presence of PoV gene sequences to assess a possible role of these viruses in childhood neoplasia. A real-time (RQ) PCR-based assay targeting three epitopes within the PoV genome has been used. The targeted regions included the overlapping areas of the large and small tumor antigen (early genes) and the virus capsid protein 1 (late gene). The tumor entities investigated included neuroblastoma, Ewing's tumors, osteosarcoma, Wilms' tumors, alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B and T), acute myeloid and lymphoid (B and T) leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia. Whenever possible, 30 specimens per tumor entity were analyzed. In none of the malignancies investigated, evidence for consistent presence of PoV sequences has been found. In contrast to earlier reports from a Swedish center, none of the 39 diagnostic neuroblastoma specimens from Austrian patients tested positive for PoV, thus raising the possibility that the presence of BKV could be a regional phenomenon. Overall, our observations do not provide support to the notion that polyoma viruses are involved in pediatric malignancy.