Varicella zoster virus infections in neuroblastoma patients: a 31-year clinical study.

BACKGROUND

The oncogenic potential of viruses was demonstrated in some human cancers. The oncogenic role of chickenpox (Cp) infection caused by varicella zoster virus has not been investigated to date.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Among 333 children with neuroblastoma, 50 had Cp infection. The correlation of Cp infection with selected prognostic factors was analyzed.

RESULTS

One Cp patients was neuroblastoma stage I, 1-II, 2-IVS, 9-III and 37-IV. Cp was more frequent in stages III (18%) and IV (74%) than stages I + II + IVS (8%). The frequency of Cp in children < 2 years was 42% and > 2 years was 40%. The adrenal (42%) and extra-adrenal (40%) abdominal localizations were most common. The progression of neuroblastoma in stage IV occurred in 86.5% of Cp children in comparison to 43.6% of the population without Cp.

CONCLUSION

The risk of progression in neuroblastoma is higher in neuroblastoma children with Cp than in neuroblastoma patients without Cp.