ABSTRACT
Certain viruses with neoplastic potential are known to be capable of participating in tumor formation to impair the immune system. In the present study, this association was investigated in patients with urogenital tract tumors. In studies of latent virus carrier state by means of immunofluorescence techniques using specimens from 118 patients with malignant tumors and 70 control persons it was found that in more than 50% of the patients, latent antigens of herpes simplex virus or adenoviruses were present in 1-3% of circulating lymphocytes. In the control group, virus carrier state in lymphocytes was demonstrated in only few patients. Using lymphocyte blastogenesis test, the effect of nonspecific mitogen (phytohemagglutinin) induced transformation of only 10-50% lymphocytes to lymphoblast cells in patients with malignant tumors, the percentage of transformation being also dependent on the stage of the tumor process. In the control group, treatment of lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin resulted in transformation of 55-85% of lymphocytes into lymphoblasts. The lymphocytes of the majority of patients with tumors became sensitive to specific herpes-virus and adenovirus antigens, mainly the lymphocytes of the patients whose blood cells were also virus carriers.
