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Hochhalter et al. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflammation 2017;4:96-108 Neuroimmunology and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-8659.2017.10
Neuroinflammation

www.nnjournal.net
Review Open Access

The association between human

cytomegalovirus and glioblastomas: a review

Christian B. Hochhalter , Christopher Carr , Brannan E. O’Neill , Marcus L. Ware , Michael J. Strong 1
2
1
1
1
1 Department of Neurological Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
2 Department of Neurological Surgery, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Correspondence to: Dr. Michael J. Strong, Department of Neurological Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112,
USA. E-mail: mstrong@tulane.edu
How to cite this article: Hochhalter CB, Carr C, O’Neill BE, Ware ML, Strong MJ. The association between human cytomegalovirus and
glioblastomas: a review. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflammation 2017;4:96-108.

Dr. Michael J. Strong recently graduated from the MD/PhD program at Tulane University School of Medicine in
New Orleans. He will be starting residency training in neurological surgery at the University of Michigan in Ann
Arbor. His dissertation project utilized next generation sequencing and bioinformatics to investigate oncogenic
pathogens. He has authored 30+ peer-reviewed publications. He has received numerous awards including the
Alpha Omega Alpha Student Research Fellowship, the Campagna Scholarship in Neurological Surgery, the
American Association of Neurological Surgeons Young Neurosurgeons Committee Mission Fellowship, and the
National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award F30 Predoctoral Fellowship.
ABSTRACT

Article history: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was reported in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) over a
Received: 17-02-2017 decade ago and this finding has the potential to increase our understanding of the disease and it
Accepted: 23-05-2017 offers an alternative tumor-specific therapeutic target. Due of this promise, there is a fair amount
Published: 16-06-2017 of time, energy and money being directed towards understanding and utilizing this connection
for eventual therapeutic purposes. Nevertheless, the association between GBM and HCMV
Key words: remains controversial. Several studies have reported conflicting results, further undermining
Human cytomegalovirus, the potential clinical value of this association. In this review, the authors will discuss the latest
cytomegalovirus, developments on this evolving issue. Specifically, the results of the latest studies, both positive
gliomas, and negative, will be discussed. Furthermore, potential theories to explain discrepancies
glioblastoma multiforme, reported in the literature will be proposed. Clinical implications including potential targets
immunotherapy, for anti-HCMV therapy and the latest developments in anti-HCMV therapy will be presented.
brain tumors, Finally, solutions to remedy this controversial issue in neuro-oncology will be offered.
next generation sequencing

INTRODUCTION malignant primary brain tumor in adults. An estimated
26,070 new cases of primary malignant brain and
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common central nervous system (CNS) tumors are expected

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