Guilty in absentia ‒ Cytomegalovirus seropositivity relates inversely to
cancer incidence in race/ethnicity groups and worldwide: is latent viral
infection oncopreventive?
Abstract
Background. Race and ethnic disparities in cancer incidence
rates and the prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) are known to
exist in the United States (U.S.) but also across broad geographic
expanses. The prevalence of CMV seems to inversely contrast rates of
tumor incidence both in ethnic groups and globally. Is there a
biological link between cancer and CMV infection? Methods.
Global cancer data were retrieved from the World Health Organization
(WHO) database. Incidence of cancer and CMV seroprevalence (73
countries) were subjected to Spearman’s correlation test. The Bayesian
framework was adopted for CMV seropositivity variables. Cancer incidence
and CMV pervasiveness in the U.S. were extracted from publications based
on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries and
the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES),
1988-2004. Results. An inversely directed coupling between
cancer and CMV seropositivity across diverse ecologies and cultural
domains suggest a global oncoprotective effect of the CMV (Spearman’s
ρ = -0.732; p<0.001). Rates of all cancers
combined and CMV seropositivity show an opposite association (
p<0.001) among the races and foremost U.S. ethnic
groups. Conclusion. The racial/ethnic incidence of cancers and
CMV seropositivity are inversely proportional both in the U.S. and
globally. This would support a view that CMV is a potential driver
against tumorigenesis. An absence of CMV infection abrogates protection
against malignant clones afforded by the virus to an infected host.
Abating CMV seroprevalence may relate causally to the buildup of
malignancies in U.S. and the West world countries with thriving hygiene
and healthcare systems.