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Human Papillomavirus and Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in Korean Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Evaluation and Genetic Variability of the Non-Coding Control Region
  • Hyoung-Tae Jin,
  • Yong-Sun Kim,
  • Eun-Kyoung Choi
Hyoung-Tae Jin
Hallym University College of Medicine
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Yong-Sun Kim
Hallym University College of Medicine
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Eun-Kyoung Choi
Hallym University College of Medicine

Corresponding Author:ekchoi@hallym.ac.kr

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Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important causative factor of cervical cancer and is associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a rare and highly fatal cutaneous virus that can cause Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Although coinfection with oncogenic HPV and MCPyV may increase cancer risk, a definitive etiological link has not been established. Recently, genomic variation and genetic diversity in the MCPyV noncoding control region (NCCR) among ethnic groups has been reported. The current study aimed to provide accurate prevalence information on HPV and MCPyV infection/coinfection in NSCLC patients and to evaluate and confirm Korean MCPyV NCCR variant genotypes and sequences. DNA from 150 NSCLC tissues and 150 adjacent control tissues was assessed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting regions of the large T antigen (LT-ag), viral capsid protein 1 (VP1), and NCCR. MCPyV was detected in 22.7% (34 of 150) of NSCLC tissues and 8.0% (12 of 150) of adjacent tissues from Korean patients. The incidence rates of HPV with and without MCPyV were 26.5% (9 of 34) and 12.9% (15 of 116). The MCPyV NCCR genotype prevalence in Korean patients was 21.3% (32 of 150) for subtype I and 6% (9 of 150) for subtype IIc. Subtype I, a predominant East Asian strain containing 25 bp tandem repeats, was most common in the MCPyV NCCR dataset. Our results confirm that coinfection with other tumor-associated viruses is not associated with NSCLC. Although the role of NCCR rearrangements in MCPyV infection remains unknown, future studies are warranted to determine the associations of MCPyV NCCR sequence rearrangements with specific diseases.
Submitted to Journal of Medical Virology
08 Jun 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Jul 20241st Revision Received
24 Jul 2024Submission Checks Completed
24 Jul 2024Assigned to Editor
24 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Jul 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Accept