Demonstration of HSV-I antigen in patients with oral cancer by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques.

Biopsies from one hundred and seventy five patients suffering from carcinoma of the oral cavity were examined for the presence of Herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1) antigen, using Immunofluorescence (Direct and indirect) and immunoperoxidase techniques. Seventy-seven percent of the biopsies showed significant fluorescence, while 71% showed positivity with immunoperoxidase staining. There was no correlation either in the degree of fluorescence or in the intensity of peroxidase staining with clinical stage of the disease. Normal oral biopsies showed 30% and 20% positivity in immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase respectively. In the case of oral cancer cells, the fluorescence was very much diminished when HSV-1 antiserum was absorbed with specific homologous virus-infected Vero cells.