No evidence of mammary tumor virus env gene-like sequences among Iranian women with breast cancer.

Objective: The mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is the well-established etiological agent of mammary tumors in mice. A series of studies have implicated that a human murine mammary tumor virus-like virus occurs in human breast cancer, but it is unclear whether it has any causal role.

Methods: The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of MMTV env gene-like sequences in a group of Iranian women with or without breast cancer. A total of 65 breast cancer and 65 noncancerous breast specimens from the Department of Pathology of Tabriz University in East Azerbaijan, Iran, were analyzed by nested PCR.

Results: All breast cancer and benign breast samples were negative for MMTV env gene-like DNA.

Conclusion: These results indicate that the MMTV env gene-like virus may not play a significant role in the etiology of breast cancer among Iranian women.