Lab contamination debunked link between virus, prostate cancer - WREX.com

Lab contamination behind debunked link between virus, prostate cancer

Updated:

Health PartnersHealth PartnersMore>>
Health Connections
More >>
KSB Hospital
KSB Hospital

In addition to medical care, sound leadership and management are critical parts of any good hospital. At KSB Hospital, our mission and vision are put into action every day
More >>

In addition to medical care, sound leadership and management are critical parts of any good hospital. At KSB Hospital, our mission and vision are put into action every day by an Administrative team, a Board of Directors and the Medical Staff.More >>
High Field Open MRI of Rockford - MRI
High Field Open MRI of Rockford - MRI
More >>

High Field Open MRI of Rockford is conveniently located in A Perryville Place, provides state of the art, high quality diagnostic imaging in a comfortable environment.More >>
Hearing Healthcare of Illinois
Hearing Healthcare of Illinois

Hearing Healthcare of Illinois specializes in hearing loss and hearing aids .We provide counseling regarding your hearing loss and the best hearing aids at competitive prices.More >>

Hearing Healthcare of Illinois specializes in hearing loss and hearing aids .We provide counseling regarding your hearing loss and the best hearing aids at competitive prices.More >>

HealthMore>>
Many U.S. adults under-vaccinated against whooping cough
Many U.S. adults under-vaccinated against whooping cough
Whooping cough cases are escalating in the United States, and many American adults are unknowingly exposing vulnerable babies to the potentially deadly disease because their vaccinations are not up to date.More >>
Whooping cough cases are escalating in the United States, and many American adults are unknowingly exposing vulnerable babies to the potentially deadly disease because their vaccinations are not up to date.More >>
A deadly form of diabetes that doctors sometimes miss
A deadly form of diabetes that doctors sometimes miss
Addie Parker was a happy 4-year-old who appeared to have the flu. But within hours she was in a coma.More >>
Addie Parker was a happy 4-year-old who appeared to have the flu. But within hours she was in a coma.More >>
Gene variants may play role in obesity
Gene variants may play role in obesity
Two new studies offer some solace to those who can't control their weight despite diet and exercise by providing more evidence that genetics may play a role in obesity.More >>
Two new studies offer some solace to those who can't control their weight despite diet and exercise by providing more evidence that genetics may play a role in obesity.More >>
Could catching up on sleep lower your diabetes risk?
Could catching up on sleep lower your diabetes risk?
Catching up on your sleep on weekends may help protect you from developing diabetes, a small, early study suggests.More >>
Catching up on your sleep on weekends may help protect you from developing diabetes, a small, early study suggests.More >>
Facebook users really 'liked' organ donor option
Facebook users really 'liked' organ donor option
Adding an organ donation option to the average Facebook user's profile prompted a dramatic rise in potential donors, researchers report.More >>
Adding an organ donation option to the average Facebook user's profile prompted a dramatic rise in potential donors, researchers report.More >>
Could 'moderate' drinking be safe during pregnancy?
Could 'moderate' drinking be safe during pregnancy?
Children of women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant don't appear to have any neurodevelopmental problems when it comes to balance, a new British study suggests.More >>
Children of women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant don't appear to have any neurodevelopmental problems when it comes to balance, a new British study suggests.More >>
Concussion damage looks much like early Alzheimer's
Concussion damage looks much like early Alzheimer's
Concussion can lead to damage in the white matter of the brain that resembles abnormalities found in people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.More >>
Concussion can lead to damage in the white matter of the brain that resembles abnormalities found in people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.More >>
Many Americans want health care via smartphone
Many Americans want health care via smartphone
Plenty of Americans are eager to use their mobile phones and tablet computers to better manage their health care, a new poll finds -- though the nation has a way to go before we're all consulting Dr. Smartphone.More >>
Plenty of Americans are eager to use their mobile phones and tablet computers to better manage their health care, a new poll finds -- though the nation has a way to go before we're all consulting Dr. Smartphone.More >>
Scans uncover dangerous hardening of abdominal aorta
Scans uncover dangerous hardening of abdominal aorta
People with a "hardening" of the abdominal aorta are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, according to a new study.More >>
People with a "hardening" of the abdominal aorta are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke, according to a new study.More >>
Minority kids with autism less likely to use specialty services
Minority kids with autism less likely to use specialty services
Black and Hispanic children with autism are markedly less likely than children from white families to receive specialty care for complications tied to the disorder, a new study finds.More >>
Black and Hispanic children with autism are markedly less likely than children from white families to receive specialty care for complications tied to the disorder, a new study finds.More >>

THURSDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- A new study confirms that a once-promising discovery linking prostate cancer to a retrovirus called XMRV was the result of laboratory contamination.

The link was first proposed more than six years ago when XMRV's "signature" was detected in genetic material derived from tissue samples taken from prostate cancer patients. It raised hopes that using antiviral drugs to block XMRV could prevent prostate cancer.

Follow-up studies, however, failed to find the same signature and researchers concluded that XMRV is an infection of human prostate cancer cells in laboratories and not of prostate cancer patients.

The current study was published Sept. 18 in the journal PLoS One.

In this new study, researchers conducted a forensic analysis of tissue samples and lab experiments -- some dating back nearly a decade -- and confirmed that the reported link between XMRV and prostate cancer was the result of laboratory contamination.

The contamination occurred when traces of XMRV from other cells being handled in the same laboratory found their way into the prostate tissue samples, the team of scientists concluded.

"Everything arose from this presumed contamination event," study co-author Dr. Charles Chiu, assistant professor of laboratory medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and director of the UCSF-Abbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center, said in a university news release.

The researchers noted that they used newly developed technologies. They said if these scientific tools were available when the link between XMRV and prostate cancer was first suggested, it's likely that the contamination would have been identified far sooner.

Previous research also detected XMRV among tissue samples taken from people with chronic fatigue syndrome. But the original study linking XMRV and chronic fatigue syndrome has since been retracted.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more about prostate cancer.

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.

Lab contamination debunked link between virus, prostate cancer - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

Lab contamination behind debunked link between virus, prostate cancer

Video Gallery

Prostate cancer screening test has limited benefit

Cholesterol-cancer connection

Aspirin and colon cancer

Superior cancer screening

Prostate cancer and sexual dysfunction

Health PartnersHealth PartnersMore>>

Health Connections

KSB Hospital

KSB Hospital

High Field Open MRI of Rockford - MRI

High Field Open MRI of Rockford - MRI

Hearing Healthcare of Illinois

Hearing Healthcare of Illinois

HealthMore>>

Many U.S. adults under-vaccinated against whooping cough

Many U.S. adults under-vaccinated against whooping cough

A deadly form of diabetes that doctors sometimes miss

A deadly form of diabetes that doctors sometimes miss

Gene variants may play role in obesity

Gene variants may play role in obesity

Could catching up on sleep lower your diabetes risk?

Could catching up on sleep lower your diabetes risk?

Facebook users really 'liked' organ donor option

Facebook users really 'liked' organ donor option

Could 'moderate' drinking be safe during pregnancy?

Could 'moderate' drinking be safe during pregnancy?

Concussion damage looks much like early Alzheimer's

Concussion damage looks much like early Alzheimer's

Many Americans want health care via smartphone

Many Americans want health care via smartphone

Scans uncover dangerous hardening of abdominal aorta

Scans uncover dangerous hardening of abdominal aorta

Minority kids with autism less likely to use specialty services

Minority kids with autism less likely to use specialty services