engleski

On the possible role of SV40 in human mesothelioma incidence

Exposure to asbestos is considered to be a leading factor in the aetiology of malignant pleural mesothelioma. A number of reports have also implicated simian virus SV40, discovered in the early 1960s as a contaminant of poliovirus vaccines. The assumption was based on the detection of DNA sequences encoding the SV40 large &#8211; T antigen and/or its protein expression in such tumours. Recently, an article was published with a strong argument against any causative role of SV40 in human mesothelioma (Manfredy JJ, et al. Cancer Res 2005 ; 65:2602-9). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of poliovirus vaccines on mesothelioma incidence. Patients included in the study were collected from the Croatian Cancer Registry over seven years and divided in two groups: vaccinated (58 subjects ; median age 48, 5 years, range 35-56 years) and non-vaccinated (136 subjects ; median age 64, range 53-84 years). The subjects were distributed in either group taking into account their age and vaccination practice related to the time when there was a possibility of contamination with SV40. A short questionnaire was sent to the families of subjects who provided additional information on their occupation. The results showed that there were 46 subjects (79.3%) with the history of occupational exposure to asbestos in the vaccinated group, whereas there were 87 subjects (64%) in the non-vaccinated group. The difference was statistically significant (chi square=4.44 ; p=0.0351). Although the aetiology of some malignant pleural mesotheliomas not related to occupational exposure could not be accounted for, our findings do not indicate a causative role of polio vaccines used. However, as vaccinated patients were significantly younger than non-vaccinated (Mann-Whithney U Test, p<0.001), it appears that in vaccinated subjects occupationally exposed to asbestos the latency period for the development of mesothelioma was shorter than in those non-vaccinated. This raises a question about possible co-carcinogenic effect of SV40 and asbestos in mesothelioma.

asbestos exposure; co-carcinogenic effect; malignant mesothelioma; polio vaccines; simian virus SV40

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