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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Dec:149:104417.
doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104417. Epub 2020 Jul 27.

Bovine leukemia virus relation to human breast cancer: Meta-analysis

Andrew Gao  1 , Valentina L Kouznetsova  2 , Igor F Tsigelny  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Bovine leukemia virus relation to human breast cancer: Meta-analysis

Andrew Gao et al. Microb Pathog. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a virus that infects cattle around the world and is very similar to the human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV), which causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). Recently, presence of BLV DNA and protein was demonstrated in commercial bovine products and in humans. BLV DNA is generally found at higher rates in humans who have or will develop breast cancer, according to research done with subjects from several countries. These findings have led to a hypothesis that BLV transmission plays a role in breast cancer oncogenesis in humans. Here we summarize the current knowledge in the field.

Keywords: BLV; HTLV; bovine leukemia virus; breast cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diagram of genomic organization of several viruses, including HTLV-1, murine leukemia virus, a simple retrovirus in mice (MULV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and BLV. The organization of HTLV-1 and BLV is similar. Tax is present in the pX regions of both HTLV-1 and BLV (reproduced from the open source [1]).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A map of global incidence of breast cancer. Bolivia, Mongolia, Tanzania, and sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa (note that South Africa is relatively more developed and has greater economy, leading to wider accessibility of beef and dairy, as well as a population of Europeans, which could influence diets) are notable outliers for breast cancer (Reproduced from the open source [30]).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Incidence of breast cancer in Mongolia (Reproduced from the open source [29]).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Changes in breast cancer incidence in several countries (Reproduced from the open source [30]).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The urban areas have more access to imported dairy and beef products from Bos taurus and also have higher consumption of dairy and beef due to higher wealth and location (Reproduced from the open source [30]).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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