Association of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) with cervical cancer by lymphocyte reactivity with HSV-1 and HSV-2 antigens.

Twenty-six women with invasive cervical cancer were examined for lymphocyte responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) herpes simplex virus (HSV). Blood specimens were obtained from each patient before radiation therapy and separated into subpopulations by Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation. Lymphocytes were cultured in RPMI-1640 containing autologous plasma and exposed to PHA, HSV-1, HSV-2, and control antigens. The results compared with those of women having negative Papanicolaou smears and matched to the cancer patients by age, race, and socioeconomic class revealed significant differences in blastogenic response (3H-thymidine) to HSV-2 antigens. Results from groups with known HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections indicated that differences were associated with the cancer patients having a higher frequency of HSV-2 infection. Results generally agreed with the findings of previous studies in which serologic test procedures were used.