Journal Top Ten, Columns-Asbestos, April 2005

TITLE: "SV40 Enhances the Risk of Malignant Mesothelioma Among People Exposed to Asbestos: A Molecular Epidemiologic Case-Control Study"

SUMMARY: The authors conducted a case-control study on asbestos exposure and presence of SV40 in tumor samples of malignant mesotheliomas (MMs) and bladder urotheliomas (BUs). PCR analysis revealed the presence of SV40 DNA (SV40+) in eight (42.1%) MMs and 6 (33.3%) BUs. The odds ratio for MM Asb- and SV40+ was 0.4 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.03-4.0], for Asb+ and SV40- was 3.6 (95% CI, 0.6-21.0), and for Asb+ and SV40+ was …