Viral link to prostate cancer?

A newly identified virus, called XMRV, may be associated with prostate cancer, according to new research.

XMRV is related to a virus that causes leukemia in mice and is a "newly identified infectious agent in humans," according to Dr. Eric Klein. "While more research is needed to confirm our findings, this could be the first evidence that a virus is linked to prostate cancer," he added.

Researchers used a DNA ViroChip containing the genetic sequences of nearly 5,000 viruses to screen prostate tumor samples from 86 men. They compared the incidence of viral infection between men who had two mutated copies of HPC1 gene and men with one or no mutated copies of this gene.

Klein and colleagues found XMRV in 45 percent of the 20 men with two mutated copies of the HPC1 gene but in only 1.5 percent of the 66 other men.

The researchers are planning a comprehensive study to look at the possible association between medical histories, viral infection, and prostate cancer.

If XMRV is found to cause prostate cancer, it could be a target for drugs or a vaccine.