The association of human cytomegalovirus with biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation in breast cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in breast cancer has been reported, suggesting a potential association between HCMV infection and breast carcinogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between HCMV infection and immune activation and inflammatory markers in breast cancer. METHODS: HCMV DNA was detected from all patients using real-time PCR, Anti HCMV IgM and IgG antibodies were measured. IL-17 and IL-22 concentrations were detected by ELISA. Assessment of NLR and PLR was done, and cell proliferation was assessed using MTT assay. RESULTS: The results revealed a significantly increased prevalence of anti-HCMV IgG and HCMV DNA in patients compared to both benign and control groups where positive HCMV prevalence was significantly associated with vascular invasion, proliferation rate, high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and elevated IL-17 serum level. Furthermore, we demonstrated that increased serum IL-17 in patients was markedly associated with tumor stage, vascular invasion, and high NLR. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that HCMV infection may have vital roles in breast cancer pathogenesis. Moreover, altered peripheral blood cells and cytokines may result in disordered immune response in breast cancer patients.