Prostate news article, March 2006
| A POSSIBLE VIRAL
CAUSE FOR PROSTATE CANCER?
Presentation at the 2006 Prostate Cancer Symposium in San Francisco by Dr Klein of the Cleveland Clinic. Reported by: Mr Tom Swallow BSc MBBS MRCS (Ed) |
An exciting announcement was delivered by Dr Klein and co-workers at the recent Prostate Cancer Symposium in San Francisco. Researchers reported the finding of a newly identified virus in humans. The virus, called XMRV, is similar to a virus that has been shown to cause leukaemia in mice. However, Dr Klein and colleagues believe the virus may be associated with the development of prostate cancer in genetically susceptible men.
A prostate cancer susceptibility locus on chromosome 1 (HPC1) has been known about for some time. This locus encompasses the gene for ribonuclease L (RnaseL), which is an antiviral protein that can be activated by a viral infection. It was investigated by researchers at the Cleveland as to whether a viral infection may contribute to prostate cancer in men with mutations of HPC1 that impair the function of RnaseL.
Tumour samples from 86 men who had undergone prostatectomy were analysed for evidence of a viral infection. The incidence of viral infection in men with two mutated copies of the HPC1 gene was compared with men who had one or no mutated copies of this gene. XMRV was found in 45 % of the 20 men with two mutated copies of the HPC1 gene. In the men with one or less copies of the mutated gene, the incidence of XMRV was only 1.5 %.
Although, clearly the research is at a very embryonic stage, it may be very significant. The researches theorised during the presentation that the virus may be sexually transmitted. The virus may trigger off a chronic inflammation of the prostate leading to cancer. This is comparable to the way the human papillomavirus can trigger cervical cancer. Furthermore, if the evidence for XMRV mounts, then a vaccine against prostate cancer in susceptible men becomes a real possibility.