Intended Relevance of the Measles Virus in a Malignancy Diversity

Description

The suggestion of a relationship between the measles virus and classic Hodgkin lymphoma was first presented by our laboratory in 2003. Four years later, our hypothesis was refuted conjointly by two European groups. However, reevaluation of the rebutting arguments allowed us to carry on with our line of research. By that time, we submitted evidence of associations between the measles virus and several further solid tumors, including lung and breast cancers. Modulation of apoptosis was later proposed as a possible mechanism in the oncogenesis of classic Hodgkin lymphoma. Measles virotherapy has been knowingly excluded from our discussion. Additional evidence has been compiled in the form of Western blots of lung cancers, and of a tissue micro-array in four categories of cancer. The possible role of atypical measles syndrome in cancer, which although a rare condition, is still prevalent, and is discussed in the context of immune waning. Since measles virus and EBV expression were displayed in various combinations, we raise the possibility that their net consequences on tumor cell apoptosis in classic Hodgkin lymphoma, might originate from opposing effects from the two viruses.