Without cytomegalovirus infection, no lung cancer

GIM Wittmund, Horandstrasse, DE-26441 Jever, Germany

¹ Corresponding author: Barukcic@t-online.de

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus with recognized roles in immunomodulation and oncogenesis in specific contexts. Recent evidence suggests a potential association between CMV infection and lung cancer, though existing data are limited and at times contradictory. It was applied novel statistical approaches based on the concept of a “necessary condition” to evaluate the relationship between CMV infection and lung cancer, re-analysing data from multiple studies. Analysis indicates that CMV infection may act as a necessary condition for the development of lung cancer. Lung cancer incidence was consistently higher among CMV-seropositive individuals, supporting a non-random association. While these findings do not establish definitive causality, they underscore CMV infection as a potentially necessary condition in lung cancer development. Further studies are warranted to clarify this relationship and its clinical implications.