Prevalence of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Patients With Colorectal Cancer by Using PCR Technique

Background: Colorectal cancer is the most common gastrointestinal cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of cytomegalovirus in patients with colorectal carcinomas and polyps in comparison with healthy people. Patients and Methods: In this analytical case-control study, 15 patients with colorectal cancer, 20 patients with colorectal polyps and also 35 patients without malignancy as controls were studied. Biopsy specimens were frozen under sterile conditions at -20?C. After DNA extraction, analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect CMV DNA in tissue samples was performed. Statistical analysis was performed with ?2 test. Results: CMV DNA were found in 8 (53.3%) of tumor samples, in 10 (50%) of polyp samples and 13 (37.1%) of the non-malignant control group. Statistical analysis showed no significant association between the prevalence of CMV and incidence colorectal cancer and polyps in comparison with the control group. Conclusions: The results of the present study has shown the presence of CMV sequences in differentiated cancer tissue, polyp and non-malignant by PCR method reflects the ability of the virus to infect of the different colon cells.