Search for oncogenic viruses in human prostate cancer

Abstract

Electron microscopic, immunologic, and biochemical methods have been used in an attempt to detect and characterize oncornaviruses in human prostatic carcinoma (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and in prostates of mice of high and low mammary cancer or leukemia strains. Ultrastructural examination of 37 PCa and nine BPH specimens has revealed the presence of particles resembling type C virus in five cases of PCa and one of BPH, and also two different types of intracisternal virus-like particles in seven other cases of PCa. Type B virus particles have been observed in prostate of old mice of high mammary cancer strains, while type C virus particles have been found in the prostates of most mice of all the ten strains examined. Immunofluorescence tests with sera from patients with PCa and BPH and with cells derived in vitro from PCa have shown that sera of patients with PCa contained antibodies directed mainly against Forssman-like and tumor-related antigens. In immunofluorescence tests of antisera to major proteins of oncornaviruses with cells of PCa and BPH tissues grown in vitro, positive reactions have been obtained with antisera to p30 protein of murine, feline, and simian type C viruses. Fixed immunofluorescence (FIF) tests of sera of PCa (38%) and BPH (25%) and of some normal donors (27%) gave positive cytoplasmic reaction with mouse prostate cells infected with Soehner-Dmochowski murine sarcoma virus (SD-MSV). Immunoferritin tests of 11 sera positive by FIF gave ferritin labeling of type C virus particles in the SD-MSV-infected mouse prostate cells...