title: Results, questions, perspectives of a study on human Polyomavirus BK and molecular actors in prostate cancer development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prostate cancer (PC) is a common tumor in Western countries. Several risk factors play significant roles. MYC, BIRC5/survivin, CDC25 and P53 may contribute to PC risk. As demonstrated, human Polyomavirus BK (BKV) could affect cellular homeostasis contributing to PC pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biological samples were collected from PC patients. Viral RNA was searched using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whereas a qualitative PCR was employed to find particular viral sequences. Proper size amplicons were analyzed. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in p53 coding regions by means of a specific PCR. C-MYC, BIRC5/survivin and CDC25 gene expression was investigated using a Retro Transcriptional Quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viral DNA copy number was higher in cancer tissues taken from Gleason score 9 patients with Gleason score 7. Different p53 mutated compared to patients exons were found according to tumor advanced stage and a statistical significant correlation was found between Gleason score and p53 mutational rate. C-MYC, BIRC5/survivin and CDC25 expression was de-regulated according to the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of BKV and its variants in transformed cells does not exclude viral pressure in cell immortalization. Expression of other target genes evidenced a significant change in their regulation, useful for cancer drug discovery and therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome, Rome, Italy Department of the Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE), University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mischitelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Institute Pasteur, Cenci-Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy Department of Neuroscience, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellizzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anzivino
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Rodio
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciarra
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome, Rome, Italy Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pietropaolo
mesh_terms: D001739:BK Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001706:Biopsy; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
keywords: BKV infected prostate cells; Prostate cancer development; human Polyomavirus BK; oncogenes; p53 mutational rate