Detection of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus in prostate biopsy samples

To determine the association of Xenotropic murine leukemia virus related virus [XMRV] infection with prostate cancer and compare it with benign prostate hyperplasia. Case control study. Department of Histopathology and Molecular Pathology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from January 2009 to December 2012. XMRV was screened in 50 prostate cancer and 50 benign prostatic hyperplasia biopsies using conventional end-point PCR. Other studied variables were family history of prostate cancer, patients age and Gleason score. XMRV was detected in 4 [8%] of the 50 prostate cancer biopsy specimens compared to none in biopsies with benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, there was no significant statistical association of XMRV infection with the other variables. A low frequency of XMRV infection was found in this case-control study. Men, who harbor XMRV infection, may be at increased risk of prostate cancer but this needs to be investigated further at a larger scale