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  • Title: Detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA in Merkel cell carcinomas.
    Author: Varga E, Kiss M, Szabó K, Kemény L.
    Journal: Br J Dermatol; 2009 Oct; 161(4):930-2. PubMed ID: 19438857.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive tumour for which an increasing incidence has been reported. A new human polyomavirus, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV), was recently isolated from these tumours by applying digital transcriptome subtraction methodology. OBJECTIVES: To detect the presence or absence of MCV in MCCs and other, randomly selected neoplasms. METHODS: Nine primary or recurrent MCCs from seven patients were examined; 29 other tumours (squamous cell, basal cell and basosquamous carcinomas and malignant melanomas) were examined for comparative purposes. Viral large T protein (LT1 and LT3), and viral capsid protein (VP1) were detected by primer-directed amplification, using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method, and the amplified PCR products were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis and subsequent sequence analysis. RESULTS: The presence of viral T antigen and/or viral capsid DNA sequences was demonstrated in seven of the eight MCC lesions. None of the comparative samples contained MCV DNA. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that MCV infection may well be specific for MCC, and MCV may play a role in the pathogenesis of MCC.
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