[New antigen induced by herpes simplex virus in human tumors]

The study showed the new antigen induced by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) to be present not only in cancer tumors of the cervix and corpus uteri, and ovaries but also in malignant tumors of the mammary glands, kidneys, urinary bladder, as well as in tissues of fibrous-cystic mastopathy and fibroadenoma of the mammary glands. In malignant tumors of the cervix, however, the HSV-2-induced antigen was found more frequently and had a higher serological activity than in other tumors. In contrast to tumors, this antigen was not detected in normal tissues. Among 25 specimens of malignant cervical tumors containing the virus-induced antigen, 8 specimens contained virus antigen and 4 yielded biologically active virus. The virus-induced antigen is found in the tumors much more frequently then viral antigen or virus. Detection in the tumors of this new antigen demonstrates the presence in them of viral genetic information coding for the synthesis of this antigen as confirmed by transfection experiments.