VACCINE

Inhalation Toxicology • November 2006
The role of SV40
in malignant mesothelioma
and other human malignancies
Author information
Pershouse MA1, Heivly S, Girtsman T.
Center for Environmental Health Sciences
Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA
mark.pershouse@umontana.edu
Abstract
SV40 is a DNA tumor virus thrust upon human populations primarily as
a contaminant in various vaccine preparations. Some estimates suggest
that millions of people are currently infected with the virus. The virus
causes primary brain tumors, bone tumors, lymphomas, and mesotheliomas
when injected into some rodent models. It has also been detected in
a similar spectrum of human tumors. However, epidemiological studies
have failed to conclusively demonstrate a higher incidence of disease in
affected populations. To date, over 60 reports from 49 different laboratories
have shown SV40 sequences in tissues from human cancer patients.
Six studies, however, have failed to detect evidence of virus in similar
tissues. Some have suggested that SV40 may act as a cocarcinogen with
asbestos to cause mesothelioma formation, or that it may be responsible
for the 10-20% of mesotheliomas with no reported history of asbestos
exposure. This report briefly covers the historical evidence for SV40 carcinogenesis
and then covers experiments now underway to better understand
the role of SV40 in human mesotheliomas.
“Some have suggested that SV40
may act as a co-carcinogen with asbestos ‘to
cause mesothelioma formation, or that it may be
responsible for the 10-20% of mesotheliomas with
no reported history of asbestos exposure.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16920674