title: p53 gene mutational rate, Gleason score, and BK virus infection in prostate adenocarcinoma: Is there a correlation?
abstract: Prostate cancer represents the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Western countries. Viral infections could play a role in prostate carcinogenesis. Human polyomavirus BK (BKV) is a possible candidate because of its transforming properties. In this study, BKV sequences in urine, blood, fresh, and paraffin-embedded prostate cancer samples from 26 patients were searched using Q-PCR analysis. T antigen (TAg) and p53 localization in neoplastic cells were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. Also, the presence of mutations in 5-9 exons of p53 gene was analyzed. Results showed that BKV-DNA was found in urine (54%), plasma (31%), and in fresh prostate cancer specimens (85%). The analysis of p53 gene evidenced several mutations in high Gleason patients, according to tumor advanced stage. Immunohistochemical analysis results evidenced the localization of p53 and TAg into cytoplasm, whereas in TAg-negative tumors, p53 was nuclear. This study suggests that BKV acts as cofactor in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. These observations emphasize previous studies regarding the cellular pathways that may be deregulated by BKV.
authors.affiliation: Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anzivino
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fioriti
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mischitelli
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellizzi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Anamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Autran-Gomez
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Monaco
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Silverio
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sale
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Prospero
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pietropaolo
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000821:virology*; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001739:BK Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D014556:Urine / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53