SV 40 - Does this virus cause mesothelioma?In early 1999 a debate about a virus called SV 40 and its presence in certain tumors, briefly garnered media coverage. Simian virus 40 (or SV 40) is a virus of monkey origin. It was a contaminant of polio vaccines in the late 1950's and early 1960's because the vaccines were grown on monkey kidneys and some of these monkeys were carriers of SV 40. SV 40 has been identified in mesothelioma tumors as well as in brain and bone cancers, which led to theories about a possible relationship between exposure to the virus and later development of mesotheliomas and other cancers. For example, in one study hamsters were injected intra-pleurally with a type of SV 40. Over 50% developed mesothelioma and all of them developed tumors. (American Journal of Pathology: 142:5 1524-1533 by Cicala, et al.) However, a recent study (Thorax: 1999;54 (60-61) by Mulatero, Surentheran, et al.) of stored mesothelioma tumor samples did not support the hypothesis that SV 40 was related to increasing incidences of mesothelioma. And birth cohort studies in both the U.S. and Sweden show no increase in risk of cancer associated with exposure to the SV 40 contaminated polio vaccine. Yet other studies suggest that the presence of SV 40 might lead to the development of new therapies for cancer. (Journal of the National Cancer Institute: 91(2):169-75 1999) As our knowledge of genetics and tumor biology grows, we will develop new treatments for mesothelioma, but at the moment the possible role of SV 40 in either triggering or treating mesothelioma is far from clear. Regarding contamination of polio vaccines, the World Health Organization issued an informative statement. More About Diseases: |
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