Absence of polyoma virus gene sequences in tumor specimens of pediatric malignancies

The role of viruses in the pathogenesis of certain types of human neoplasia is well documented. The human polyoma viruses BKV and JCV and the simian polyoma virus SV40 have been associated with malignant tumors in humans. The involvement of SV40 has been described in cases of osteosarcoma and the presence of BKV has been reported in neuroblastoma, thus implicating the polyomaviruses (PoV) in the pathogenesis of pediatric tumors. We have therefore screened over 350 diagnostic specimens derived from 14 different pediatric malignancies for the presence of PoV gene sequences to assess a possible role of these viruse…