Detection of herpes simplex virus type-2 antigen(s) in biopsies from carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Abstract

Indirect immunofluorescence technique was employed to detect herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) antigens in tumor biopsies from 215 patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix. A total of 169 samples (79%) revealed brilliant nuclear fluorescence. Inflammatory cells infiltrating the tumor mass were positive to 60 of the 215 patients (28%). Samples showed no significant variation in the degree of fluorescence or proportion of cells binding HSV antibody with advancement in the clinical stage of the disease. Fluorescence was totally abolished when incubated with HSV-2 antiserum absorbed with a specific homologous virus. Among controls, there was fluorescence in 27% of cervical scrapings from normal women and 34% (42/124) among patients with gynecological disorders other than cervical malignancy. In cervical dysplasia 23 out of 40 patients (58%) expressed herpes virus-associated antigens. There was membrane fluorescence in live malignant cell preparations in 3 of 28 patients (11%). Normal cervix tissue from hysterectomy specimens and breast cancer cells were negative for herpes simplex virus-related antigens. Pre-immune serum and PBS showed nonspecific fluorescence in 25% and 23% of sera, respectively.