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Relevance of the Measles Virus Expression in Cancer - an Update

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Evidence of an association between classical Hodgkin lymphoma and the measles virus has previously been presented by our group. Arguments held against our thesis were reevaluated. Substantiation of a relationship between the measles virus and additional solid tumors was submitted. Moreover, a pathogenic pathway was suggested to support a possible contribution of the measles virus to the development of classical Hodgkin lymphoma. We have chosen to exclude a discussion of measles virotherapy, since this carries distinct implications. We now add new evidence regarding the expression of the measles virus phosphoprotein in a few cancers. We also suggest a role in this context for atypical measles syndrome in malignant tumors. Last, we propose a collaboration which may make the best, on the one hand of our cohort of classical Hodgkin lymphoma, half of which carry the measles virus expression in their tumor cells. The planned study will also look into the patients vaccination records and into a previous history of the measles disease. On the other hand, cohorts of patients diagnosed with late onset measles will be assessed for the eventual diagnosis of atypical measles syndrome and will be followed up for the subsequent development of a malignant tumor.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Kibbutz Sde-Boker, Israel, for its support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pathology, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 1, Itzhak Rager Boulevard, P.O.Box 151, 84101, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Daniel Benharroch & Karen Nalbandyan

  2. Departments of Oncology, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Samuel Ariad & Irena Lazarev

  3. Department of Life Sciences, National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Noa Tadmor

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  1. Daniel Benharroch
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  2. Samuel Ariad
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Correspondence to Daniel Benharroch.

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Benharroch, D., Ariad, S., Tadmor, N. et al. Relevance of the Measles Virus Expression in Cancer - an Update. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 22, 661–666 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-016-0080-7

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