Analysis and description of procedures used in the study of the relationship of herpes simplex virus "non-virion" antigens to certain cancers.

After a brief review of the relationship of herpes simplex viruses to certain human cancers, a description is given of procedures used in the study of herpesvirus "non-virion" antigens, and various points on which disagreement currently exists are discussed. Complement-fixation tests on these markers with both cancer and control sera as well as with "non-virion" antisera, which did not react with non-anti-complementary stored virion antigens, are described, and it is suggested that another parameter is now available for studies of squamous-cell carcinomas. The finding in certain tumours that expression of a repressed viral genome takes place proves that there is a continuing release of virus-specific messages and would indicate an important role for the virus in the development of the tumour.