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New Australian research links breast cancer to a virus

Mon Aug 18,11:09 AM ET

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SYDNEY (AFP) - Research strongly linking a large percentage of breast
cancer (news - web sites) cases to a new virus was unveiled by
Australian scientists who say it may open up the possibility of a
vaccine.

Researchers from Sydney's University of New South Wales and Prince of
Wales Hospital found more than 40 percent of breast cancer samples had
the virus, although it was found in only two percent of normal breast
samples taken from cosmetic surgery.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in many
countries and affects one in 11 women in Australia. But while many
risk factors have been identified, no clear causes of breast cancer
have been defined until now.

The research, described at the Fresh Science
2003 forum in Melbourne and in the latest edition of the Journal of
Clinical Cancer Research, showed the new virus, known as HHMMTV, to be
a human equivalent of the mammary tumour virus which causes more than
95 percent of breast cancer in mice.

Not only does the study demonstrate a strong link between the HHMMTV
virus and breast cancer, it suggests an association between the virus
and more severe forms of breast cancer, researcher Caroline Ford said.

"If this virus does in fact play a role it opens up the possibility of
a preventative vaccine," said Ford, a PhD student at the university
and winner of the Fresh Science award.

She described the discovery as "exciting" but said more work had to be
done to prove the link.

The virus, usually only found in the cancerous tissue and not in the
normal breast tissue from women with breast cancer, may also play an
important role in male breast cancer, with over 50 percent of male
samples testing positive for HHMMTV.

A large number of non-cancerous diseases of the breast that are
thought to increase the risk for subsequent cancer have also been
shown in the study to be positive for the virus.

"Many people believe that breast cancer is purely a hereditary
disease, yet hereditary breast cancer is estimated to account for only
five percent of all cases of breast cancer," said Ford.

"In other words, we have little idea what causes 19 out of 20 cases.
Our preliminary research indicates that a virus may be involved.

"This new research supports the link between this virus and breast
cancer in Australia. If it can be shown that this virus causes cancer,
the possibility of a preventative vaccine for breast cancer would be
of enormous consequence."

The Fresh Science forum, which is part of the government sponsored
Science Week, is a national program aimed at drawing attention to the
achievements of young Australian scientists.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1507&ncid=1507&e=3&u=/afp/20030818/hl_afp/australia_health_cancer_030818150946

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