Cytomegalovirus infection may be oncoprotective against neoplasms of B-lymphocyte lineage: single-institution experience and survey of global evidence

• Published in: Virology journal 2022-09, Vol.19 (1), p.1-155, Article 155
• Main Authors: Janković, Marko, Knežević, Aleksandra, Todorović, Milena, Đunić, Irena, Mihaljević, Biljana, Soldatović, Ivan, Protić, Jelena, Miković, Nevenka, Stoiljković, Vera, Jovanović, Tanja
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Antibodies; B cells; B-cell malignancies; Cancer; Chronic infection; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus infections; Disease; Gender; Global; Health aspects; Infections; Laboratories; Leukemia; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes B; Lymphoma; Lymphomas; Multiple myeloma; Oncoprotection; Patient outcomes; Patients; Population; Prevention; Risk factors; Seroepidemiology; Serology; Seroprevalence; Surveys; Tumors; Variables; Virology; Viruses
• ISSN: 1743-422X; 1743-422X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01884-1

Although cytomegalovirus (CMV) is not considered tumorigenic, there is evidence for its oncomodulatory effects and association with hematological neoplasms. Conversely, a number of experimental and clinical studies suggest its putative anti-tumour effect. We investigated the potential connection between chronic CMV infection in patients with B-lymphocyte (B-cell) malignancies in a retrospective single-center study and extracted relevant data on CMV prevalences and the incidences of B-cell cancers the world over. In the clinical single-center study, prevalence of chronic CMV infection was compared between patients with B-cell leukemia/lymphoma and the healthy controls. Also, global data on CMV seroprevalences and the corresponding country-specific incidences of B- lineage neoplasms worldwide were investigated for potential correlations. Significantly higher CMV seropositivity was observed in control subjects than in patients with B-cell malignancies (p = 0.035). Moreover, an unexpected seroepidemiological evidence of highly significant inverse relationship between country-specific CMV prevalence and the annual incidence of B-cell neoplasms was noted across the populations worldwide ([rho] = -0.625, p < 0.001). We try to draw attention to an unreported interplay between CMV infection and B-cell lymphomagenesis in adults. A large-scale survey across > 70 countries disclosed a link between CMV and B-cell neoplasms. Our evidence hints at an antagonistic effect of chronic CMV infection against B-lymphoproliferation.