Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Jan 4:12:1.
doi: 10.1186/s13027-016-0113-6. eCollection 2017.

Mouse mammary tumor-like virus (MMTV) is present in human breast tissue before development of virally associated breast cancer

Teiko Nartey  1 , Chiara M Mazzanti  2 , Stella Melana  1 , Wendy K Glenn  3 , Generoso Bevilacqua  2 , James F Holland  1 , Noel J Whitaker  3 , James S Lawson  3 , Beatriz G T Pogo  1
Affiliations

Mouse mammary tumor-like virus (MMTV) is present in human breast tissue before development of virally associated breast cancer

Teiko Nartey et al. Infect Agent Cancer. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: There is substantial evidence that a virus homologous to mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) may have a role in human breast cancer. The present study indicates that those who developed breast cancer associated with an MMTV-like virus had this virus in their non-cancerous breast tissues years before the cancer developed.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques and sequencing were used to identify MMTV-like envelope gene sequences (MMTV-like env sequences) in Australian benign breast biopsy specimens from women who several years later developed breast cancer. Murine contamination was excluded by stringent laboratory procedures, and the absence of intracisternal A particle sequences and mitochondrial cyclooxygenase sequences.

Results: MMTV-like env sequences (also called HMTV sequences to denote their source) were found in 9 of 25 breast cancer specimens (36%). Among 25 non-cancerous breast biopsies of these same patients taken 1 to 11 years earlier, six contained MMTV-like sequences (24%). Five of the six were among the nine virally-associated breast cancers. In two pairs of specimens, benign and malignant, env sequences were 97% identical.

Conclusions: The identification of MMTV (MMTV-like) sequences in breast tissues prior to the development of MMTV positive breast cancer fulfills a key criterion for a possible causal role for the MMTV-like virus in human breast cancer.

Keywords: Benign breast tissues; Breast cancer; HMTV; Histological; Histotype; Human mammary tumour virus; MMTV; MMTV-like; Morphological; Morphology; Mouse mammary tumor virus; Mouse mammary tumor-like virus.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
MMTV env gene sequences identified in benign breast and subsequent breast cancer – sequence sets of two of the same patients, compared to the MMTV (HMTV) envelope sequence DQ925473. Letters in red signify a change to the reference sequence
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a. MMTV positive human breast cancer. b. MMTV positive mouse mammary tumour
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ross SR. MMTV infectious cycle and the contribution of virus-encoded proteins to transformation of mammary tissue. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. 2008;13:299–307. doi: 10.1007/s10911-008-9090-8. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bittner JJ. Some possible effects of nursing on the mammary gland tumor incidence in mice. Science. 1936;84:162. doi: 10.1126/science.84.2172.162. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Wang Y, Holland JF, Bleiweiss IJ, Melana S, Liu X, Pelisson I, Cantarella A, Stellrecht K, Mani S, Pogo BG. Detection of mammary tumor virus env gene-like sequences in human breast cancer. Cancer Res. 1995;55:5173–9. - PubMed
    1. Liu B, Wang Y, Melana SM, Pelisson I, Najfeld V, Holland JF, Pogo BG. Identification of a proviral structure in human breast cancer. Cancer Res. 2001;61:1754–9. - PubMed
    1. Hill AB. The environment and disease: Association or causation? Proc R Soc Med. 1965;58:295–330. - PMC - PubMed