Human cancers and viruses: a hypothesis for immune destruction of tumours caused by certain enveloped viruses using modified viral antigens.

Certain viruses which have been identified as possible aetiological agents of human malignant tumours have 2 common characteristics: a) they persist in the human body for long periods despite the presence of antibodies to them and b) they all possess viral envelopes. The envelopes, consisting of phospho-lipoproteins are derived from host cells viz nuclear envelope in the case of DNA viruses, and the cell membrane in the case of RNA viruses. These host cell elements on the viral envelope modify the antigenicity of the specific surface antigens which are now perceived by the host immune system as partly self. This in turn blackmails the immune system, if it is to avoid serious auto-immune disease, into producing compromise and ineffective antibodies. The hypothesis proposes the dissolution of the viral envelope in vitro and the re-introduction of the viral core into the host. This should provoke a new uncompromised immune response because it will be directed at the viral core only. This response should eliminate the viral core and with it, the whole enveloped virus, as well as the malignant tumour cells which carry the viral genome derived essentially from the viral core. This approach should introduce a new method for treating and preventing tumours caused by enveloped viruses and the chronic diseases caused by such viruses.