Cell-mediated immunity and antibodies to Herpesvirus hominis type 1 in oral leukoplakia and carcinoma

Herpes Simplex Virus Tumor-Associated Antigens in Cancer Patients

Data are reported on the HSV nonstructural antigens detected in GPK and RK cells after infection with the same strain of virus. Both the HSV types 1 and 2 NV antigens consist of more than one component for which the immunized guinea pigs produce distinct antibodies. It was possible to separate by PAGE, HSV-induced markers not only from cells undergoing lytic infection by the virus but also from viable cells from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and the urogenital tract. These fractions were tested with sera from cancer patients, and the percentages of their CF reactivity are reported. The specificity of the antibody to the antigen from the cancer cells was less high than that of the antibody to the antigen from HSV-infected cells. It is suggested that the use of these PAGE separate antigens would eliminate the need for removal of the virion antibody from the cancer sera prior to testing them for the NV-specific antibody.

Herpes Simplex Virus and Human Cancer. III. Search for Relationship of Herpes Simplex Antibodies and Cervical Dysplasia and Labial Neoplasia

We employed the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect hemagglutination (IHA), and complement fixation (CF) methods to measure antibody titer to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) in patients affected by labial tumors or cervical dysplasias. No relationship of antibody titer to HSV-1 and labial tumors was detected by any of the three methods. Association between antibody titer to HSV-2 and cervical dysplasias was revealed by IHA (p < 0.05) and ELISA (p < 0.001); CF tests were negative. Moreover, we assayed for HSV-specific antigens in cell cultures derived from labial tumors and cervical dysplasias. In cultures from labial tumors, it was not possible to detect HSV-specific antigens. Of the 25 cultures derived from cervical dysplasias, HSV antigens were found in only 3 cultures.

Characterization of a Herpes Simplex Virus Isolated from a Lip Tumor Developing after Recurrent Herpes

A spindle-cell carcinoma developed on the lower lip of 53-year-old patient who had suffered from recurrent local herpes. From a tumor biopsy a human herpesvirus 1 (Type 1 Herpes Simplex Virus) was isolated (strain n. 466). Infected cells contain eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions (fig. 3); the agent's cpe is abolished by anti-HSV antiserum and by chloroform; the agent produces typical plaques (fig. 4), grows at 38 °C, and its DNA has a density of approximately 1.726 g per cm3, equal to that of DNA of « F » prototype of human herpesvirus 1 (text-fig. 1). However, its immunological structure (text-fig. 2) and its protein electrophoretic pattern (fig. 5) slightly differentiate this virus from homotypic strains including some local isolates. At the time the virus was isolated from the tumor no HSV was recovered from the surrounding skin of the patient. After surgical removal of the tumor, the patient suffered no more of herpetic recurrences. As far as the significance of the isolation is concerned, UV-inactivated strains possess a transforming activity in vitro and human herpesvirus 2 is known to be associated to cervical carcinoma in some human populations, but no direct oncogenicity has been shown in HSV. In our case, HSV may have been implicated through the association of the irritant effect of repeated recurrences and a possible abortive type of infection with cigarette smoking.

Assesment of Correlation of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 with Oral Cancer and Precancer- A Comparative Study

INTRODUCTION

Most common malignant neoplasm in the oral cavity is squamous cell carcinoma. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) may enhance the development of oral carcinoma in individuals who are already at increased risk of the disease because of tobacco consumption and cigarette smoking and so must be considered as a possible etiologic agent in oral cancer and precancer.

AIM

To assess and compare the correlation of HSV-1 in oral cancer and precancerous lesions/conditions with healthy subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study comprised of 150 subjects who were divided into three groups as oral cancer, precancer and control group. Their blood samples were collected and were tested for HSV-1 IgG antibody level, using 'Herpe Select-1' ELISA kit.

RESULTS

There was statistically insignificant difference between the HSV-1 IgG level in cancer and precancer but statistically significant difference was found between the HSV-1 IgG level among control group and cancer/precancer.

CONCLUSION

The present study clearly indicates that quantitative estimation of IgG antibody against HSV-1 in cancer/precancer patients will give the clue in the etiology of cancer or precancer. However, further studies with a large sample size should be carried out to determine the role of HSV-1 in etiology of oral cancer and precancer.

Viruses in the aetiology of oral carcinoma? Examination of the evidence

This paper examines the evidence for an aetiological role for viruses in the development of oral carcinoma. Several viruses have been sought in oral cancer and evidence found for some, particularly herpes simplex and human papillomavirus. However, the evidence also suggests that these viruses are ubiquitous agents and a number of criteria must be met before these potentially oncogenic agents can reliably be implicated in human carcinogenesis. In contrast, there is no evidence that viruses such as adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and retroviruses play any role in oral carcinogenesis.

Oncogenic potential of sexually transmitted viruses with special reference to oral cancer

Recent changes in social mores have been accompanied by a noted increase in the frequency of sexually transmitted diseases. Viruses that have been identified as causative agents for a large proportion of these diseases have also been associated with various malignant states. Concomitantly, the number of cases of oral cancer (considered to occur usually around or after the fifth decade of life) reportedly has been increasing among young adults. The oncogenic potential of several sexually transmitted viruses (HSV, HPV, CMV, and LAV/HTLV III) and their possible role in the development of malignant conditions, in particular oral cancer, are discussed in this review.

Humoral immune responses to adenoviruses, herpes virus type 1, and Candida albicans in sera of dental patients with oral neoplastic and periodontal diseases

Levels of immunoglobulin class-specific antibodies as determined by solid phase radioimmunoassays to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), human adenovirus types 5, 21, and 31 and to Candida albicans in sera from untreated healthy dental patients were not significantly different from levels of these antibodies in sera from untreated dental patients with benign oral tumors, oral carcinoma, or periodontal disease. These results show that higher levels of immunoglobulin class-specific antibodies to HSV-1, the three adenoviruses, or Candida albicans are not a consistent finding in sera from patients with oral cancer when comparisons are made with healthy patients and patients with other oral diseases.

Epidemiological and diagnostic aspects of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Available data in United States on morbidity, mortality and survival is reviewed and trends discussed. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a small problem in numerical terms, but is a highly lethal disease. The diagnosis is not difficult for the competent pathologist but problems arise in the diagnosis and prognosis of potentially malignant conditions. Our understanding of the behavior of dysplastic lesions is limited and any attempts to determine individuals "at risk" should be encouraged.

Microbial pathogenicity in oral soft tissue diseases

Recent work implicating microbial factors in the pathogenesis of several oral soft tissue diseases is discussed. These conditions include recurrent aphthous ulceration, oral cancer, Sjogren's syndrome, and the oral lesions of AIDS (the acquired immune deficiency syndrome). This paper reviews some recent work on these topics, with emphasis on investigations in our laboratory.

Effect of snuff and herpes simplex virus-1 on rat oral mucosa: possible associations with the development of squamous cell carcinoma

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of snuff and experimentally induced herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection in Sprague-Dawley rats. It was demonstrated that it was possible to obtain 100% development of acute HSV-1 infection in the rat oral mucosa, but only 10% of latent reactive infection of the trigeminal ganglia. The rats were, therefore, acutely infected monthly with virus to simulate recurrence of latent infection. Virus was applied topically to the mucous membrane twice with an interval of one month. Snuff was administered between the virus applications and afterwards to half the virus-exposed animals. Sham-infected rats were given snuff during the same period (18 months). A fourth group of rats were left untreated. A complete post-mortem examination was performed. Two rats exposed to snuff and HSV-1 in combination developed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. It was also found that rats exposed to snuff alone or in combination with HSV-1 had a higher incidence of tumours or tumour-like conditions than control rats exposed to HSV-1 only. The incidence of malignant tumours was significantly higher in rats exposed to snuff or HSV-1 and snuff in combination than in control animals (p less than 0.05). The results of the study indicate that HSV-1 in combination with snuff exposure may be associated with the development of squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity.

Cell-mediated immunity to human oral carcinoma, and cross reactivity to patients with oral leukoplakia demonstrated by the leukocyte migration test

Tissue extracts from 18 oral carcinomas were tested in the leukocyte migration capillary technique (LMCT) against autologous leukocytes and against leukocytes of healthy matched controls. The normal range was defined as the mean migration index (MI) of the leukocytes of the normal controls +/- 2SD. Three carcinoma patients showed significant inhibition and one was on the lower borderline of the normal range. None showed stimulation. When leukocytes of leukoplakia patients were tested against normal intestine and two homologous oral carcinoma extracts, significantly different MI's were found between carcinoma and normal intestine. The findings are compatible with a state of tissue-specific, cellular hypersensitivity against antigenic components present in oral leukoplakia and in oral carcinoma, and is possibly common between the two.

Neutralizing antibody to herpes simplex virus type 1 in patients with oral cancer

Neutralizing antibody to Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), type 2, and measles virus was measured in the serum of patients with oral cancer, patients with oral leukoplakia, and in control subjects who were smokers and nonsmokers. Significantly higher titers to HSV-1 were found in controls who smoked than in controls who did not smoke. Patients with untreated oral cancer had HSV-1 neutralizing titers similar to those of the controls who smoked, but those with later stage tumors had higher titers than those with earlier stage tumors. In patients who were tumor free after treatment for oral cancer, higher antibody titers to HSV-1 were associated with longer survival times. No association was found between clinical status and antibody to measles virus. The data are consistent with a role for both HSV-1 and smoking in the pathogenesis of oral cancer.

Oral cancer and herpes simplex virus--a review

Numerous studies have suggested that patients with oral cancer have an increased immune response to herpes simplex virus. However, the number of cases has always been small, and essential controls have not always been included. Laboratory experiments have shown that herpes simplex virus can be carcinogenic or cocarcinogenic under certain circumstances and so must be considered as a possible etiologic agent in oral cancer. This article reviews past research and suggests priorities for future investigations.

Plasma cells and immunoglobulin-synthesis in oral precancer and cancer. Correlation with dysplasia, cancer differentiation, radio- and chemotherapy

The subepithelial and peritumoral inflammatory infiltrates of 202 oral premalignant and malignant lesions -- 108 leukoplakias and 94 squamous cell carcinomata with different grades of dysplasia were examined using an immunoenzymatic method. In addition, the influence of radiation and bleomycin-therapy on the stromal reaction of 24 carcinomata was studied. The incidence of immunoglobulin labelled plasma cells (IgA and IgG) was twice as high in those cases of leukoplakia where dysplasia was present. The number of plasma cells, especially IgA- and IgG-containing plasma cells, decreased significantly with progressive tumor dedifferentiation. The plasma cell response differed before and after radiation with a decrease in IgA- and IgG-containing plasma cells after therapy. In contrast, bleomycin-therapy did not produce distinct changes in the humoral and cellular stromal reaction. In the epithelium, IgA and IgG were localized throughout all epithelial layers in leukoplakias with dysplasia. This finding indicates a leakage of locally synthesized immunoglobulins through an altered oral mucosa. This investigation reveals alterations in the local immune homoeostasis of the oral mucosa in premalignant and malignant lesions which varies with the grade of dysplasia, tumor differentiation and therapy.