Abstract
Introduction: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. HCMV is an ubiquitous virus in humans with very high prevalence rates. Despite its proven effect on immune senescence, oncogenicity has not been proven so far.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of active human cytomegalovirus infection on lung cancer prognosis.
Methods: 84 lung cancer tissue were collected during surgical removal of the tumor. DNA was extracted and analysed using Real Time-PCR for specific HCMV DNA fragments. 12 samples proved HCMV positive while 72 were HCMV negative. Statistical analysis was performed to correlate HCMV infection and several clinical outcome parameters.
Results: No correlation was found between active HCMV infection and: age group, smoking, TNM classification, relapse time, survival time or death rate (p>0.05).
Correlation was found between lung cancer relapse times and high HCMV concentration in the samples: (Mantel-Cox=3.705, df=1, p=0.052). The results state that active HCMV infection is associated with an early relapse in post-surgery lung cancer patients.
Conclusions: Results may have clinical relevance. Early treatment of active HCMV infection in lung cancer patients could improve relapse times. Further studies are recommended.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, PA3053.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2019