DNA sequences similar to those of simian virus 40 in ependymomas and choroid plexus tumors of childhood.
BACKGROUND
Ependymomas and papillomas of the choroid plexus occur in early childhood. The ubiquitous human polyomaviruses, BK virus and JC virus, have been associated with the induction of these neoplasms in animal models. A related monkey polyomavirus, simian virus 40 (SV40), is highly tumorigenic in rodents and also induces choroid plexus papillomas.


METHODS
We tested the possibility that polyomaviruses were associated with these tumors in humans. Tumors from 31 children--20 with choroid plexus neoplasms and 11 with ependymomas--were evaluated for the presence of polyomavirus T-antigen gene sequences by means of amplification with the polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Ten of the 20 choroid plexus tumors and 10 of the 11 ependymomas contained amplification products that preferentially hybridized to probes specific for SV40 viral DNA rather than BK or JC viral DNA. In two specimens, DNA sequencing demonstrated that the amplified sequence was identical to the sequence of that region of the SV40 gene. In three other specimens, amplification with SV40-specific primers revealed a 574-bp segment of the SV40 viral gene. In 7 of 11 tumors examined by immunohistochemical staining, viral T antigen was expressed in the nuclei of the neoplastic cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Half of the choroid plexus tumors and most of the ependymomas that we studied contained and expressed a segment of T-antigen gene related to SV40. These results suggest that SV40 or a closely related virus may have an etiologic role in the development of these neoplasms during childhood, as in animal models.
Bergsagel
D J
DJ
Division of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Children's Hospital, Boston.
Finegold
M J
MJ
Butel
J S
JS
Kupsky
W J
WJ
Garcea
R L
RL
D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D001739:BK Virus / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016545:Choroid Plexus Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007577:JC Virus / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics*
D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral