Polyomavirus Hominis 1(BK virus) Infection in Prostatic Tissues: Cancer versus Hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
Polyomavirus hominis 1, better known as BK virus (BKV) infection might be a predisposing factor for prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of BK virus infection in pathological specimens of patients with PCa compared to patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.


METHODS
From July 2011 to June 2012, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of patients with PCa (60 specimens) and also with benign prostatic hyperplasia (60 specimens) were investigated. After DNA purification, existence of virus nucleic acid was assessed by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Viral DNA was identified in 9 patients (15%) with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 17 patients (28%) with PCa (P = .076). In patients with PCa, viral DNA was observed more often in those with lower total Gleason scores (P = .045).


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of BK virus infection in PCa patients was higher than BPH patients. BK virus was more often observed in patients with lower Gleason scores. Less detection of BK virus DNA in overt cancer may prove the activity of the virus which paves the way for tumorigenic transformation at early stages of PCa.
Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. afsoon496@yahoo.com.
Afsoon
A
Taghavi
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Peyman
P
Mohammadi-Torbati
Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Amir Hossein
AH
Kashi
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hanieh
H
Rezaee
Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Maryam
M
Vaezjalali
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001739:BK Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D011467:Prostate / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral