Human Papillomavirus and Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in Korean Patients
with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Evaluation and Genetic Variability of
the Non-Coding Control Region
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important causative factor of cervical
cancer and is associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Merkel
cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a rare and highly fatal cutaneous virus
that can cause Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Although coinfection with
oncogenic HPV and MCPyV may increase cancer risk, a definitive
etiological link has not been established. Recently, genomic variation
and genetic diversity in the MCPyV noncoding control region (NCCR) among
ethnic groups has been reported. The current study aimed to provide
accurate prevalence information on HPV and MCPyV infection/coinfection
in NSCLC patients and to evaluate and confirm Korean MCPyV NCCR variant
genotypes and sequences. DNA from 150 NSCLC tissues and 150 adjacent
control tissues was assessed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
targeting regions of the large T antigen (LT-ag), viral capsid protein 1
(VP1), and NCCR. MCPyV was detected in 22.7% (34 of 150) of NSCLC
tissues and 8.0% (12 of 150) of adjacent tissues from Korean patients.
The incidence rates of HPV with and without MCPyV were 26.5% (9 of 34)
and 12.9% (15 of 116). The MCPyV NCCR genotype prevalence in Korean
patients was 21.3% (32 of 150) for subtype I and 6% (9 of 150) for
subtype IIc. Subtype I, a predominant East Asian strain containing 25 bp
tandem repeats, was most common in the MCPyV NCCR dataset. Our results
confirm that coinfection with other tumor-associated viruses is not
associated with NSCLC. Although the role of NCCR rearrangements in MCPyV
infection remains unknown, future studies are warranted to determine the
associations of MCPyV NCCR sequence rearrangements with specific
diseases.