Presence of Human Papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr Virus in Breast Cancer Biopsies as Potential Risk Factors

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer represents the leading cause of cancer-related death in the Venezuelan female population. Many risk factors favoring its appearance have been reported; however, human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus have been associated in the past few decades as potential risk factors in the development of this malignancy. Objective: To detect the presence of human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus in breast cancer bi- opsies in order to establish a possible link between infection with these viral agents and the development of this pathology. Methods: Fresh biopsies were collected from patients with breast cancer and patients with breast benign pathology attending the Hospital Universitario de Caracas for surgery. Human papillomavirus detection was made using the INNO-LIPA® HPV Genotyping Extra commercial kit (Innogenetics), and Epstein-Barr virus genome was detected with Epstein-Barr Virus BMLF1 commercial kit (Maxim Biotech, Inc.). Results: 63.6 and 13.6% of breast cancer cases were positive for human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus DNA, respectively, whereas the benign pathology samples had 4.5% positivity for each one of the viruses; 42.90% of breast cancer samples had mixed infection with low and high oncogenic risk human papillomavirus genotypes. Conclusion: We can suggest that human papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus are important risk factors for breast cancer; however, studies allowing for the role of these viruses in the development of the disease to be elucidated are required.