Viral integration, fragile sites, and proto-oncogenes in human neoplasia

To evaluate the trend of viral integration in the human genome, chromosomal localization of five DNA-containing viruses compiled from literature data was compared to the location of fragile sites and proto-oncogenes. A total of 35 regionally mapped viral integration sites from tumors and transformed cells were distributed over 19 chromosomes. Of the 35 integration sites 23 (66%) were at the bands of fragile sites, and 7 were one band away (20%). This statistically defines the correlation as highly significant (P = 0.0000183, Fisher's F-test). Five integration sites did not correspond to the location of a fragile site. Thirteen integration sites and proto-oncogenes mapped at the same bands (37%), 6 (17%) were one band apart, and at 16 integration sites (46%) no proto-oncogenes were localized (P = 0.00491). Eighteen viral integration sites, fragile sites, and proto-oncogenes (51%) were localized at the same bands or one band distant. This clustering of viral integration sites, fragile sites, and proto-oncogenes is statistically highly significant (P = 0.0000118), and indicates nonrandom viral integration in the human genome.