Carcinoma of the cervix and herpesvirus

Some aspects of the role of viruses in cancer

The cells of tumours induced by many oncogenic DNA viruses, or cells transformed in vitro, contain virus-specific T and transplantation antigens; these have been described for SV40 virus, polyoma virus and adenoviruses. The investigation of viruses as causes of malignant disease in man has sought to establish whether tumour cells possess these virus-specific proteins; however, to date and with the limitations of present techniques, this enquiry has not demonstrated the above viruses as causal of human cancer. More recent studies with herpesvirus type 2 (HSV-2) have shown this virus to transform animal and human cells in culture, and induce cancer in experimental animals: for these reasons, many researchers have suggested that this agent may be an agent of some forms of cancer, in particular carcinoma of the cervix. The possible association of HSV-2 with human malignant disease is discussed.

A hypothesis: the role of a high-risk male in the etiology of cervical carcinoma: a correlation of epidemiology and molecular biology

Certain impressive epidemiological evidence appearing in the last few years leads to the conclusion that some males are more prone to have a spouse with squamous cancer of the cervix than others. Advances in knowledge in other fields, especially at the molecular biological level, enable speculation on reasons for this curious conclusion. These readily testable theories, together with an outline of the evidence on which they rest, form the substance of this hypothesis.