title: Human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus infections in breast cancer from chile.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein Barr virus (EBV) have been found in breast carcinomas (BCs) around the world. In this study, fifty-five BCs from Chile were analyzed for HPV and EBV presence. In addition, HPV-16 viral load/physical status and E6/E7 expressions were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amplification of a housekeeping gene showed that 46/55 samples (84%) had amplifiable DNA. HPV-16 was detected in 4/46 BCs (8.7%) and EBV was detected in 3/46 (6.5%) BCs. The analysis of HPV-16 physical status showed that this virus was integrated in all of the tumors with a relatively low viral load (range: 0.14 to 33.8 copies/cell). E6 and E7 transcripts, however, were not detected in any HPV-16 positive specimens. Using a Cox-regression model, we found a statistically significant association between EBV presence and poor survival (p = 0.013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings in this study suggest that it is unlikely that HPV and/or EBV play a direct role in the etiology of BC.
authors.affiliation: Virology Program, I.C.B.M., Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago 838-9100, Chile.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aguayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
authors.forename: Noureen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
authors.forename: Chihaya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koriyama
authors.affiliation: Virology Program, I.C.B.M., Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago 838-9100, Chile.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Virology Program, I.C.B.M., Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago 838-9100, Chile.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ampuero
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Heath, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Oslando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solís
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncogenic and Persistent Viruses, Center for Chronic Viral Diseases, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eizuru
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Pontificia Universidad Catolica, 85 Lira Street, Santiago 133-202, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corvalán
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan.
authors.forename: Suminori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akiba