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.