Association of HTLV1 infection and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Both esophageal carcinoma and HTLV-1 (Human T cell lymphotropic virus 1) have high prevalence in northeastern of Iran.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the presence of HTLV-1 genome in esophageal cancerous tissue and in tissues from non cancerous individuals.


METHODS
Eighty five patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 48 non-cancerous control patients that underwent esophagogasteroscopy for other reasons were included in this study. All selected subjects are residing in northeastern part of Iran. All specimens were studied histopathologically by H&E staining and were evaluated for HTLV-1 by PCR method. In PCR, the presence of tax, pol, env and LTR segments of HTLV-1 genome were detected.


RESULTS
Male to female ratio in the case group was 3 to 5. Average age and standard deviation in case and control group were 56 +/- 17 and 54 +/- 21 years, respectively; which did not have any significant differences. All the patients came from the same area in the northeastern part of Iran. HTLV-1 genome was found in two subjects with esophageal cancer and in one subject in the control group. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the two groups (chi square = 0.26, Fisher exact test P value = 0.7, Odd ratio = 1.13 [0.08<OR<32.46]).


CONCLUSIONS
HTLV-1 infection and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma did not appear to have a significant correlation.
Mirsadraee
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. majidmirsadraee@yahoo.com
Kalantari
M R
MR
Saffari
A
A
Mahmoudi
M
M
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral