Detection of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) in the Benign and Malignant Breast Tumors by Polymerase chain Reaction

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) in benign and malignant breast tumors. A total of 24 carcinomas and 24 fibroadenomas paraffin embedded tumoral tissue samples were obtained from the pathology sections of Toos and Firoozgar hospitals in Tehran, Iran. All samples were collected from patients from June 2011 to February 2012. DNA was extracted from all samples and the infection with VZV was examined by PCR technique. The results obtained in this study showed that 3 out of 24 carcinoma samples (12.5%) were infected by VZV, while the number of fibroadenoma samples infected by this virus was 3 (12.5%). Based on the results obtained by this study, VZV was observed in both benign and malignant tumors. However, no association was observed between VZV infection and the formation of malignant or benign tumors based on the Chi-square test. Although it has been proven that VZV plays role in occurrence of latent infections after chemotherapy, no relationship was confirmed between this virus and breast benign and malignant tumors. Future studies are needed to elucidate the possible role of the virus in the disease. It is concluded that VZV is detectable in both malignant and benign tumors of the breast and the virus may play a role in the pathophysiology of breast tumors. However, further studies are needed to confirm the role of VZV in tumor formation.