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Association of HCMV IE1 protein and UL123 DNA with clinicopathological features and survival in patients with glioma

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: The reported presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in glioma varies across studies, partly because protein- and DNA-based assays may yield different results. This analysis examined the association of HCMV immediate-early 1 (IE1) protein and UL123 DNA markers and their associations with glioma features and survival. Methods: A dataset containing 221 paired glioma records was analyzed. IE1 status was represented as an immunohistochemistry result, and UL123 DNA status was represented as a quantitative real-time PCR result. Associations with clinicopathological characteristics were examined using Pearson's chi-square tests. Agreement between IE1 IHC and UL123 qPCR was evaluated using Cohen's kappa and McNemar's test. Overall survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimates and two-sided log-rank tests without multivariable adjustment. Results: IE1 high status was present in 135 records (61.1%), and UL123 positive status was present in 124 (56.1%). The assays agreed in 162 records (73.3%; kappa = 0.451), and their positive rates did not differ significantly (McNemar P = 0.193). Both markers were more frequent in higher-grade, IDH1 R132H-negative, older, and lower-KPS groups. The 36-month overall survival rate was 25.9% for IE1-high records and 54.7% for IE1-low records. Corresponding rates were 25.0% and 52.6% for UL123-positive and UL123-negative records. Double-positive records had lower 36-month overall survival than double-negative records (21.0% vs. 59.7%; log-rank P < 0.001). Conclusion: IE1 protein and UL123 DNA showed agreements and were associated with adverse clinicopathological features and shorter overall survival. These findings support further validation of standardized HCMV testing in independent glioma cohorts.

Source: Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2026.1975136