Mesothelioma mortality in Europe: impact of asbestos consumption and simian virus 40.
BACKGROUND
It is well established that asbestos is the most important cause of mesothelioma. The role of simian virus 40 (SV40) in mesothelioma development, on the other hand, remains controversial. This potential human oncogene has been introduced into various populations through contaminated polio vaccines. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the possible presence of SV40 in various European countries, as indicated either by molecular genetic evidence or previous exposure to SV40-contaminated vaccines, had any effect on pleural cancer rates in the respective countries.


METHODS
We conducted a Medline search that covered the period from January 1969 to August 2005 for reports on the detection of SV40 DNA in human tissue samples. In addition, we collected all available information about the types of polio vaccines that had been used in these European countries and their SV40 contamination status.


RESULTS
Our ecological analysis confirms that pleural cancer mortality in males, but not in females, correlates with the extent of asbestos exposure 25 - 30 years earlier. In contrast, neither the presence of SV40 DNA in tumor samples nor a previous vaccination exposure had any detectable influence on the cancer mortality rate in neither in males (asbestos-corrected rates) nor in females.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the currently existing data on SV40 prevalence, no association between SV40 prevalence and asbestos-corrected male pleural cancer can be demonstrated.
Leithner
Katharina
K
Department of Pulmonology, University Clinic of Internal Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria. katharina.leithner@meduni-graz.at
Leithner
Andreas
A
Clar
Heimo
H
Weinhaeusel
Andreas
A
Radl
Roman
R
Krippl
Peter
P
Rehak
Peter
P
Windhager
Reinhard
R
Haas
Oskar A
OA
Olschewski
Horst
H
D001195:Asbestosis / Q000401:mortality*; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000401:mortality*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013539:Simian virus 40; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000401:mortality*
D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines