title: Analysis of prognostic significance of merkel cell polyomavirus in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), a ubiquitous DNA tumor virus, has been found to be associated with Merkel cell carcinoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Previous studies have reported conflicting results on the frequency and potential pathogenetic role of MCPyV in CLL. The aim of this study was to evaluate MCPyV's association with CLL and its prognostic significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2006 and 2013, DNA samples obtained from CLL patients (n = 119) before treatment were tested for MCPyV using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis and verified by gel electrophoresis. Only samples testing positive by both methods were considered valid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that 13 (11%) of 119 CLL cases were positive for MCPyV. Between the groups of MCPyV-positive and -negative patients, there was no significant difference in the sex, age, cytogenetics, presence of p53 defect, or immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGHV) mutational status. In the subset of MCPyV-negative patients, advanced Rai stage (III to IV) was found more frequently, and therapy was initiated more often. There was no difference in overall response rate, median progression-free survival, and overall survival between both groups. We did not observe any new positivity after treatment in initially MCPyV-negative patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides the first analysis of the prognostic role of MCPyV in CLL. MCPyV occurrence seems to be a relatively rare event during the course of CLL. MCPyV is also unlikely to influence the outcome of CLL patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trizuljak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, and Faculty Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Srovnal
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Plevová
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Yvona
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Brychtová
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Lukáš
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Semerád
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Denisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bakešová
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Létalová
authors.affiliation: Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benedíková
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jiří
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, and Faculty Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Marián
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajdúch
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Šárka
authors.initials: Š
authors.lastname: Pospíšilová
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: mdoubek@fnbrno.cz.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doubek
mesh_terms: D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D059965:Merkel cell polyomavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
keywords: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Merkel cell polyomavirus; Overall survival; Polymerase chain reaction; Prognostic factors