20 research outputs found
Presence and expression of the simian virus-40 genome in human giant cell tumors of bone
SV40 DNA sequences have been found in human tumors, such as mesotheliomas,
ependymomas, and bone tumors, suggesting that SV40 may be involved in their
etiology. The FOS oncogene could play an important role in bone development
because SV40 is able to induce FOS in cell culture. In this study, the presence
of SV40 sequences, large T antigen (Tag), and FOS protein expression were
investigated in 120 giant cell tumors (GCTs), moderately benign bone tumors that
in some cases can progress to a malignant phenotype. Polymerase chain reaction
(PCR), using primers that amplify the RB1 pocket binding domain and the intron of
Tag, was used to analyze GCT for the presence of SV40 DNA. Tag and FOS protein
expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. SV40 sequences were found in
30/107 GCTs, and of these, 22/30 samples expressed Tag protein (73%) and 15/30
overexpressed the FOS oncogene (50%). FOS was undetectable in 77 SV40-negative
GCTs. Sequence analysis of the amplified DNAs confirmed that the amplified
sequences corresponded to SV40 DNA. The correlation between FOS overexpression
and SV40-positive GCTs was highly statistically significant (P < 0.001). These
results show that SV40 DNA sequences and SV40 Tag are present in GCTs and might
induce FOS activity. These data suggest that SV40 might play a role in the
development and progression of some GCTs