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Medulloblastomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumors rarely contain polyomavirus DNA sequences
John Y H Kim1, Igor J Koralnik, Mark LeFave
1Division of Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Neuro-Oncology
|June 27, 2002
Summary
Polyomavirus infection was investigated as a cause for medulloblastoma and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (sPNETs). SV40 DNA was detected in one medulloblastoma cell line, but not in primary tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Polyomaviruses, including simian virus 40 (SV40), JC virus, and BK virus, possess oncogenic potential.
- Previous studies have detected polyomavirus DNA in various solid tumors, including pediatric brain tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that medulloblastoma and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (sPNETs) may arise from polyomavirus infections.
- To screen for the presence of SV40, JC virus, and BK virus DNA in primary tumor samples and cell lines.
Main Methods:
- Genomic DNA from 15 medulloblastoma and 5 sPNET biopsy specimens, plus 2 medulloblastoma cell lines, was analyzed.
- Southern blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific polyomavirus probes were employed.
Main Results:
- JC virus and BK virus DNA were not detected in any of the analyzed specimens.
- SV40 DNA sequences were absent in all primary medulloblastoma and sPNET samples.
- SV40 DNA (coding and noncoding) and nuclear expression of SV40 large T antigen were identified in the D283-Med cell line.
Conclusions:
- Medulloblastomas and sPNETs infrequently show evidence of polyomavirus infection compared to other pediatric brain tumors like ependymomas.
- While SV40 was not found in primary tumors, its presence in a medulloblastoma cell line warrants further investigation.