title: Immunologic evidence of a strong association between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and simian virus 40.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), the most common cancer of the lymphatic system, is of unknown etiology. The identification of etiologic factors in the onset of NHL is a key event that could facilitate the prevention and cure of this malignancy. Simian virus 40 (SV40) has been considered an oncogenic agent in the onset/progression of NHL.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with 2 synthetic peptides that mimic SV40 antigens of viral capsid proteins 1 to 3 was employed to detect specific antibodies against SV40. Serum samples were taken from 2 distinct cohorts of NHL-affected patients (NHL1 [n = 89] and NHL2 [n = 61]) along with controls represented by oncologic patients affected by breast cancer (BC; n = 78) and undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (UNPC; n = 64) and 3 different cohorts of healthy subjects (HSs; HS1 [n = 130], HS2 [n = 83], and HS3 [n = 87]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunologic data indicated that in serum samples from NHL patients, antibodies against SV40 mimotopes were detectable with a prevalence of 40% in NHL1 patients and with a prevalence of 43% in NHL2 patients. In HSs of the same median age as NHL patients, the prevalence was 16% for the HS1 group (57 years) and 14% for the HS2 group (65 years). The difference was statistically significant (P < .0001 and P < .001). Interestingly, the difference between NHL1/NHL2 patients and BC patients (40%/43% vs 15%, P < .001) and between NHL1/NHL2 patients and UNPC patients (40%/43% vs 25%, P < .05) was significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate a strong association between NHL and SV40 and thus a need for innovative therapeutic approaches for this hematologic malignancy.
authors: Section of Pathology, Oncology, and Experimental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Tognon
authors: Section of Hematology, School of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Luppi
authors: Section of Microbiology, Schools of Medicine and Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Corallini
authors: Section of Microbiology, Schools of Medicine and Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Taronna
authors: Section of Hematology, School of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Barozzi
authors: Section of Pathology, Oncology, and Experimental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: John Charles
authors: JC
authors: Rotondo
authors: Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste Italy, and University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Manola
authors: M
authors: Comar
authors: Hospital Headquarter Department, State Hospital, Institute for Social Security, San Marino, Republic of San Marino.
authors: Maria Vittoria
authors: MV
authors: Casali
authors: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Bovenzi
authors: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: D'Agostino
authors: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Vinante
authors: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Rigo
authors: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors: Isacco
authors: I
authors: Ferrarini
authors: Section of Microbiology, Schools of Medicine and Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Barbanti-Brodano
authors: Section of Pathology, Oncology, and Experimental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Martini
authors: Section of Pathology, Oncology, and Experimental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Mazzoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins
keywords: NHL; SV40; antibody; immunology; serum