Can a virus cause mesothelioma? Some evidence suggests that the answer is “yes”. A study done by the Cancer Research Center of the University of Hawaii found that Simian Virus 40 (SV40) is present in some people with malignant mesothelioma. In the study, after SV40 was injected into the hearts of laboratory hamsters, 60 percent of the test animals developed the disease and eventually died of mesothelioma. Human mesothelioma cells have also been observed producing both SV40 DNA and its proteins.
Although the Hawaii study and others have raised the possibility that the presence of simian virus 40 in the human body may act together with asbestos to trigger the development of malignant mesothelioma, there is still no conclusive evidence that simian viruses and mesothelioma are related, although some scientists theorize that SV40 may trigger cancer (and possibly mesothelioma) in people whose immune systems have been weakened by years of exposure to asbestos.
Whatever the role of SV40 in the development of mesothelioma, the fact remains that exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma, and that those injured by this disease deserve compensation.
Our experienced mesothelioma lawyers can examine your work history and other factors and determine the merits of your case.
