BK and Herpes simplex virus antibodies in renal cell carcinoma

Serum antibodies against BK virus (BKV) and seven other viruses were studied in 76 patients with renal cell carcinoma using either the haemagglutination inhibition or the complement fixation techneque. BKV and herpes simplex virus (HSV), but no other virus antibodies, showed a clear correlation with the clinical course of renal carcinomas. The patients without BKV antibodies or with marginal antibody titres (titre less than or equal to 10), had a significantly longer observed expectation of life (O.E. life, 44.1 months) than the O.E. life (26.7 months) of the patients with BKV antibodies of titre less than or equal to 20. Similarly, patients with low or undetectable HSV antibodies (titre less than or equal to 8) also had significantly longer O.E. life (54.0 months) than the rest of the patients (32.7 months). The results suggest that BKV and HSV have an as yet underfined relationship to renal cell carcinomas.