Prediagnostic circulating polyomavirus antibody levels and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

Background: Three human polyomaviruses have been classified as probable (Merkel cell polyomavirus) or possible (BK and JC polyomaviruses) carcinogens, but few epidemiologic studies have examined associations between this growing class of viruses and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Methods: Associations between polyomavirus antibodies and NHL incidence were examined using data from the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-II. This nested case-control study included 279 NHL cases and 557 controls. Prediagnostic antibodies to the major capsid protein of polyomaviruses BKV, JCV, MCV, TSV, WUV, KIV, HPy6, and HPy7 were measured by fluorescent bead-based multiplex serology, and associations with NHL were estimated using conditional logistic regression (NHL overall) and unconditional polytomous logistic regression (NHL subtypes).

Results: Although an inverse trend was suggested for TSV antibody levels and NHL risk, the HRs were not statistically significant. There were no other observed associations between polyomaviruses and NHL risk. For NHL subtypes, TSV antibody level above the median was associated with a lower risk of CLL/SLL; however, this association was based on 19 cases in the high antibody group and may be due to chance.

Conclusions: Our results do not support associations of polyomaviruses BKV, JCV, WUV, KIV, HPyV6, HPyv7, MCV, or TSV with risk of NHL.

Impact: Human polyomavirus antibody levels do not appear to predict a higher NHL risk in immunocompetent individuals.