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Thorax 1999;54:60-61 doi:10.1136/thx.54.1.60
  • Short paper

Simian virus 40 and human pleural mesothelioma

  1. C Mulateroa,
  2. T Surentheranb,
  3. J Breuerb,
  4. R M Rudda
  1. aDepartment of Medical Oncology, bDepartment of Virology, cSt Bartholomew’s Hospital, London EC1A 7BE, UK
  1. Dr R M Rudd.
  • Received 14 May 1998
  • Revision requested 29 June 1998
  • Revised 10 September 1998
  • Accepted 23 September 1998

Abstract

BACKGROUND An aetiological role for Simian virus 40 (SV40) in malignant mesothelioma has been suggested from studies in the USA and the UK but results have been conflicting. A study was undertaken to look for evidence of SV40 in stored tissue samples from pleural mesotheliomas.

METHODS DNA was extracted from paraffin embedded tissue. The presence of DNA was established by amplification of a 250 bp product from the betaglobin gene. Primers PYV.F and PYV.R were used in a concentration of 50 per mol each per reaction to amplify a 172 bp fragment of a conserved region of SV40 that codes for a portion of large T antigen that is common to SV40 and other polyoma viruses.

RESULTS Twelve of the 17 samples contained amplifiable betaglobin DNA. None of the samples (0/12, 95% CI 0 to 26.5%) was positive for the polyoma large T antigen.

CONCLUSIONS These results do not lend any support to the hypothesis that SV40 infection may be aetiologically relevant to the increasing incidence of mesothelioma in the UK.

Footnotes

  • Funding: Special Trustees for St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

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