Breast Cancer Association with Cytomegalo Virus—A Tertiary Center Case-Control Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Cytomegalo virus is a ubiquitous virus often associated with congenital infections. Some studied have claimed an association between infection with this virus and development of breast cancer. The aim of this prospective research was to study the difference in Cytomegalo virus sero-positivity among patients with breast cancer and benign breast diseases, and thereby to prove any association. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based Case-Control study conducted at the General Surgery wards of our hospital, a tertiary level public sector health care institution. This study was done on 130 patients with breast swellings who underwent surgical excision of their lumps over a 1-year period. Patients with histologically proven malignancies were selected as cases while proven benign cases were deemed to be the controls. IgG and IgM antibodies to Cytomegalo virus were checked in the patients from both groups. Results: All of the studied patients turned out to be positive for Immunoglobulin G against Cytomegalo virus while all the patients were found to be negative for Immunoglobulin M. There was no difference in the antibody titers among the benign and malignant cases in the study. Logistic regression calculation was also carried out including the study parameters and other known risk factors. Conclusions: We conclude that there is no association between Cytomegalo virus sero-positivity and breast cancer. Another conclusion is that the studied adult population has been exposed to Cytomegalo virus in some point of their lives. Further studies of a larger magnitude are essential to confirm our results.

Keywords::

• breast
• breast cancer
• cytomegalo virus
• etiology
• oncogenesis

This article refers to:

Invited Brief Commentary on the Article “Breast Cancer Association with Cytomegalo Virus - a Tertiary Center Case-Control Study” Is Cytomegalo Virus a Breast Cancer Etiologic Risk Factor?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors state their gratitude towards the faculty and residents of the Department of General Surgery, at our institution. We also acknowledge the cooperation by all the staff members of the Advanced Clinical Research laboratory where all the blood investigations were carried out. None of these contributors received any financial compensation for their work.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

State Board for Medical Research (A2-SBMR(2015-2016)/17351/2015/MCT dated 29-02-2016)

This research was funded by the State Board for Medical Research, Government Medical College, Trivandrum. State Board for Medical Research (A2-SBMR(2015-2016)/17351/2015/MCT dated 29-02-2016)