Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Glioma-infiltrating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Published on: November 28, 2015
No circulating cytomegalovirus in five patients with glioblastoma multiforme
Steven Lehrer1, Vincent Labombardi, Sheryl Green
1Mount Sinai Medical Center, Box 1236, New York 10029, USA. stevenlehrer@hotmail.com
Background:
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive type of primary brain tumor, accounting for 52% of all primary brain tumor cases and 20% of all intracranial tumors. Recently, evidence for a viral cause has been postulated, possibly SV40 or more likely cytomegalovirus (CMV). One report indicated that 80% of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme have detectable cytomegalovirus DNA in their peripheral blood, while sero-positive normal donors and other surgical patients did not exhibit detectable virus.
Patients And Methods:
In the current study, we examined peripheral blood of 5 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. Peripheral blood was collected in anticoagulated tubes from five patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme referred for radiation therapy. We used standard methods for detecting CMV by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and peripheral blood culture.
Results:
None of our patients had circulating CMV.
Conclusion:
There are four subtypes of glioblastoma. We hypothesize that circulating CMV might be limited to some, but not all of these subtypes, and that our failure to detect CMV might be attributed to the fact that none of these patients had the appropriate subtype or subtypes.
Insights
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was not detected in the peripheral blood of glioblastoma multiforme patients. This suggests CMV may only be present in specific glioblastoma subtypes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Neuro-oncology
Background:
- Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive primary brain tumor.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a potential etiological factor in glioblastoma.
- Previous studies reported high CMV detection rates in glioblastoma patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of circulating cytomegalovirus (CMV) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.
- To determine if CMV is a common factor in glioblastoma development.
Main Methods:
- Examined peripheral blood samples from five patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.
- Utilized reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and peripheral blood culture for CMV detection.
Main Results:
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was not detected in any of the peripheral blood samples analyzed.
- No circulating CMV was found in the study cohort.
Conclusions:
- The absence of CMV in this cohort suggests it may not be universally present in glioblastoma multiforme.
- Hypothesize that circulating CMV may be restricted to specific glioblastoma subtypes.
- Further research is needed to identify potential subtype-specific associations with CMV.
