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WASHINGTON, Jan 20, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Epstein-Barr virus detected in breast cancer tissue and tumor cells may impact the efficiency of chemotherapy drugs, French and Japanese researchers say.
The virus, a member of the common herpesvirus family, has been previously linked to skin and gastric cancer, as well as cancer of the salivary glands and thymus. New studies have detected EBV in breast cancer specimens and have prompted researchers to examine the effect of infection with EBV on anticancer drug treatment.
EBV genome was identified in about half the biopsy specimens of breast cancer tissue and tumor cell, however the viral load was highly variable from tumor to tumor. These findings indicate that although EBV isn't likely to cause breast cancer, it may contribute to tumor progression, the researchers said.
"Consequently, even if a small number of breast cancer cells are EBV infected, the impact of EBV infection on the efficiency of anticancer treatment might be of importance," said the researchers.
The findings were published in the January issue of the Journal of Virology.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
