A new study done by researchers of the University of California, Berkeley, reveals that a cattle virus, bovine virus, has been associated with human breast cancer.

Exposure to bovine leukemia virus (BLV) might be an associating agent for women with breast cancer.  The researchers used donated tissue from the Cooperative Human Tissue Network, which they compared with the breast tissue from 239 women who either did not have or had breast cancer history.

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According to RRT News, the findings of the study reveal that BLV was detected in 59 percent of tissue samples that were taken from women who were diagnosed with breast cancer. Compared to the 29 percent, BLV was also detected from the tissue samples from those women with no history of breast cancer.

When the data were analyzed by the researchers, they have found out that the risk of developing the cancer was 3.1 times higher if BLV is present in a woman's body than if the virus was not. The ratio was higher compared to other well-known risk factors for breast cancer such as hormones, alcohol consumption, and obesity.

However, it is unknown how the subjects of this study became infected with the cattle virus. Perhaps it could come through undercooked beef, consumption of unpasteurized milk, direct contact to infected cattle, or transmitted by other humans who were also infected or had direct contact with infected cattle. Either way, Gertrude Buehring, the lead author of this study and a professor of virology in the above mentioned university, said that it has been found out that the cattle virus is one contributor to breast cancer.

As stated by United Press International, if the researchers have truly proven that BLV is a cause of having breast cancer, the way people currently look at how breast cancer can be controlled could be changed. It would then shift to emphasizing the prevention of the cancer rather than to cure it or to contain it after it has already happened, Buehring added.

The journal PLOS ONE published this study and more information can be found there.

Tagsbreast cancer, bovine leukemia virus or blv, cattle virus, prevent cancer