Mouse mammary tumour-like virus gene sequences and specific breast cancer morphology

摘要

We previously reported that the histological characteristics of some human breast tumours in which mouse mammary tumour-like virus (MMTV) gene sequences had been identified, were similar to mammary tumours from C3H experimental mice. Such mammary tumours in mice are usually associated with MMTV. We have now confirmed that the mouse mammary tumours were MMTV positive (as we had assumed but not demonstrated). Standard PCR analyses were conducted on DNA extracted from 10 (unselected) of the 44 archival formalin fixed mouse mammary tumour specimens previously described. The PCR methods used were identical to those used for the human breast tumour specimens, again as previously described. The analyses were repeated three times. The products of the PCR for three samples were sequenced.