Mumps and ovarian cancer: modern interpretation of an historic association.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiologic studies found childhood mumps might protect against ovarian cancer. To explain this association, we investigated whether mumps might engender immunity to ovarian cancer through antibodies against the cancer-associated antigen MUC1 abnormally expressed in the inflamed parotid gland.


METHODS
Through various health agencies, we obtained sera from 161 cases with mumps parotitis. Sera were obtained from 194 healthy controls. We used an ELISA to measure anti-MUC1 antibodies and electro-chemiluminescence assays to measure MUC1 and CA 125. Log-transformed measurements were analyzed by t-tests, generalized linear models, and Pearson or Spearman correlations. We also conducted a meta-analysis of all published studies regarding mumps and ovarian cancer.


RESULTS
Adjusting for assay batch, age, and sex, the level of anti-MUC1 antibodies was significantly higher in mumps cases compared to controls (p = 0.002). Free circulating levels of CA 125, but not MUC1, were also higher in cases (p = 0.02). From the meta-analysis, the pooled odds ratio estimate (and 95% CI) for the mumps and ovarian cancer association was 0.81 (0.68-0.96) (p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Mumps parotitis may lead to expression and immune recognition of a tumor-associated form of MUC1 and create effective immune surveillance of ovarian cancer cells that express this form of MUC1.
Cramer
Daniel W
DW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Epidemiology Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology Epidemiology Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Harvard Medical School, 221 Longwood Ave, RFB 366, Boston, MA 02115, USA. dwcramer@partners.org
Vitonis
Allison F
AF
Pinheiro
Simone P
SP
McKolanis
John R
JR
Fichorova
Raina N
RN
Brown
Kevin E
KE
Hatchette
Todd F
TF
Finn
Olivera J
OJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000276:immunology; D009107:Mumps / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
D018394:CA-125 Antigen; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; C451759:MUC16 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018396:Mucin-1