[Detection of murine mammary tumor virus (MMTV) env gene-like sequences in breast cancer from Argentine patients].
In the last years research on the possible viral etiology of human breast cancer has been revised. Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of a Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (MMTV) env gene-like sequence in about 38% of breast cancers from American and Italian women; these sequences are generally absent in other tumors and in normal mammary tissue. In the present study we have analyzed the presence of a 250-bp sequence of the MMTV env gene in breast cancer biopsies from Argentine patients. The retroviral fragment was present in 31% (23/74) of the tumors, only in one normal mammary tissue and in none of the fibroadenomas analYzed. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 46 cancer patients were also analyzed; the sequence was found in 17% (2/12) of the PBMC from env positive tumor patients and in 3% (1/34) of the env negatives. The results from Argentine samples are similar to those from USA and Italy, where the breast cancer incidence is alike. These findings support the hypothesis of a viral agent involved in the genesis of this neoplasia and encourage the continuation of these studies.
D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D001483:Base Sequence; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015752:Genes, env / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D017385:Sequence Homology
Detección de secuencias homológas al gen env del virus del Tumor Mamario Murino (MMTV) en cáncer de mama de pacientes argentinas.