Sarcomas induced by injection of simian virus 40 into neonatal CFW mice

Sarcomas were induced in CFW mice by the iv inoculation of simian virus 40 (SV40) in neonatal animals. Infection with murine malaria parasites, Plasmodium berghei yoelli, decreased the latency and increased the incidence and invasiveness of the tumors. All mice given both SV40 and P. berghei yoelli had sarcomas of the liver and spleen at 9 months of age. At 11 months of age, 70% of the SV40-inoculated mice had sarcomas of the liver indistinguishable from those in the group given both pathogens. Only 1 lung metastasis was seen in the SV40-treated group. The sarcomas contained SV40 T-antigen as revealed by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Among adult CFW mice given iv injections of SV40, only 2 tumors were found at 11 or 12 months after virus inoculation. Both tumors were in the lungs; 1 was an adenoma and 1 was a papillary adenocarcinoma. Neither gave a positive reaction with the immunofluorescence test.