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Published on: July 6, 2013
Cytomegalovirus DNA in non-glioblastoma multiforme brain tumors of infants
Zohreh Habibi1, Mahsa Hajizadeh2, Zohreh Nozarian2
1Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Purpose:
CMV antigens have been detected in some brain tumors specially glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). As brain tumors in the first years of life are among the most aggressive neoplasms with poor prognosis, novel therapeutic options like targeted therapy against virus antigens are demanded. Infantile central nervous system tumors, other than GBM, have not been so far studied for CMV. To our best knowledge, this is the first study in which the presence of CMV-DNA, as a potential viral target for therapy, in non-GBM infantile brain tumors has been investigated.
Methods:
The paraffin blocks of non-GBM brain neoplasms of 36 infants (age < 24 months) who were operated on between 2006 and 2016 were examined for CMV-DNA, using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Paraffin blocks of CMV infected lung tissue were used as positive control. Extraction and amplification of β2 microglobulin gene from each tumor tissue were carried as positive internal control. We also assayed 25 paraffin blocks of meningomyelocele for CMV DNA as negative tissue controls.
Results:
Histopathological diagnoses consisted of 13 glial/neuroglial tumors (36.1%), 8 ependymomas (22.2%), 7 medulloblastomas (19.4%), 3 choroid plexus tumors (8.3%), 2 atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (5.6%), 2 embryonal CNS tumors (5.6%), and 1 germ cell tumor (2.8%). We could not detect CMV DNA in all samples examined.
Conclusion:
Although CMV may be associated with GBM, no role could be proposed for this virus in development of non-GBM infantile brain tumors. Further investigations on larger series of brain tumors should be conducted to confirm or rule out our conclusion.
Insights
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was not detected in non-glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) infantile brain tumors. This study suggests CMV does not play a role in the development of these aggressive childhood brain cancers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Neuro-oncology
- Virology
Background:
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens are found in some brain tumors, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
- Infantile brain tumors are aggressive with poor prognoses, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies targeting viral antigens.
- Previous research has not investigated CMV in non-GBM infantile brain tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of CMV-DNA in non-GBM infantile brain tumors.
- To assess CMV as a potential therapeutic target in pediatric brain neoplasms.
- This study represents the first investigation of CMV in non-GBM infantile brain tumors.
Main Methods:
- Examined paraffin blocks from 36 infants (<24 months) with non-GBM brain neoplasms operated on between 2006 and 2016.
- Utilized real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect CMV-DNA.
- Included positive controls (CMV-infected lung tissue) and internal controls (β2 microglobulin gene); meningomyelocele tissues served as negative controls.
Main Results:
- Histopathological diagnoses included glial/neuroglial tumors (36.1%), ependymomas (22.2%), medulloblastomas (19.4%), choroid plexus tumors (8.3%), atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (5.6%), embryonal CNS tumors (5.6%), and germ cell tumors (2.8%).
- CMV DNA was not detected in any of the examined non-GBM infantile brain tumor samples.
Conclusions:
- The study found no evidence of CMV DNA in non-GBM infantile brain tumors.
- A role for CMV in the development of these specific pediatric brain tumors cannot be proposed.
- Further research on larger cohorts is recommended to confirm these findings.
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