No Detection of Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-Related Viruses in Prostate Cancer in Sanandaj, West of Iran

Background: Multiple etiologies have been hypothesized for prostate cancer, including genetic defects andinfectious agents. A recently reported gamaretrovirus, xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV)has been reported to be detected in prostate cancer. However, this virus has not been detected in similar groups ofpatients in other studies. Herein, we sought to detect XMRV in prostate cancers and benign controls in Sanandaj,west of Iran. Materials and
Methods: In a case-control study, genomic DNA was extracted from formalin fixedand paraffin embedded prostate tissues from a total of 163 Iranian patients. We developed a conventional anda nested PCR assay using primers targeting to an env specific sequence of XMRV. PCR assays were carried outon 63 prostate cancers and 100 benign prostate hyperplasias.
Results: Beta-actin sequences were successfullydetected in the DNA extracts from all prostate tissues, confirming DNA extraction integrity. We did not detectXMRV in samples either from prostate cancers or benign prostate hyperplasias using XMRV specific primers.
Conclusions: We conclude that in our population XMRV does not play a role in genesis of prostate cancer.