{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,10]],"date-time":"2025-12-10T08:21:33Z","timestamp":1765354893385,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,5]],"date-time":"2022-10-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1664928000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Viruses"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) prevalence in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) cases is controversial. The detection and quantification of MCPyV DNA is mainly performed by PCR techniques using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. The aim of this study is to compare the performance of two different molecular techniques, specifically the quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) and digital PCR (dPCR). Samples from 31 cases of MCC excisional surgical biopsies were analyzed. DNA extraction and purification from clinical samples were performed using the QIAcube Qiagen automated nucleic acid extractor. After the extraction, MCPyV was detected by qPCR and dPCR using specially designed primers and probes. Of the 31 MCC samples under study, the MCPyV genome was detected in 11 samples (35%) by qPCR compared with 20 samples (65%) detected by dPCR. Notably, 65% of primary tumors were positive for MCPyV (15\/23). The viral genome was detected in 75% of tumors located at UV-exposed sites (6\/8), 55% of tumors at partially UV-protected sites (5\/9), and 67% of tumors at UV-protected sites (4\/6). Our results showed a better sensitivity of dPCR in detecting the MCPyV genome in MCC samples compared with traditional qPCR techniques.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/v14102195","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,12]],"date-time":"2022-10-12T02:10:27Z","timestamp":1665540627000},"page":"2195","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Comparison of Quantitative Real-Time PCR and Digital PCR to Detect the Polyomavirus in Merkel Cell Carcinoma"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0905-5003","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martina","family":"Barchitta","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies \u201cGF Ingrassia\u201d, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2655-8574","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Maugeri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies \u201cGF Ingrassia\u201d, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elisabetta","family":"Campisi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies \u201cGF Ingrassia\u201d, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2023-2135","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roberta","family":"Magnano San Lio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies \u201cGF Ingrassia\u201d, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Giuliana","family":"Favara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies \u201cGF Ingrassia\u201d, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hector Jose","family":"Soto Parra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico \u201cG. Rodolico-S. Marco\u201d, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lucia","family":"Salvatorelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies \u201cGF Ingrassia\u201d, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gaetano","family":"Magro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies \u201cGF Ingrassia\u201d, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Guido","family":"Basile","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4405-8162","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonella","family":"Agodi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies \u201cGF Ingrassia\u201d, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Calonje, J.E., Brenn, T., Lazar, A.J., and Billings, S. (2018). Tumors of the Surface Epithelium. McKee\u2019s Pathology of the Skin, Elsevier."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"832","DOI":"10.1016\/S0190-9622(03)02108-X","article-title":"Epidemiology of Primary Merkel Cell Carcinoma in the United States","volume":"49","author":"Agelli","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. 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