Leukemia, lymphoma, and osteosarcoma induced in the Syrian golden hamster by simian virus 40.

Leukemia, lymphoma, and osteogenic and anaplastic sarcomas develop in Syrian golden hamsters inoculated intravenously at 3 weeks of age with simian virus 40, which is a popova virus. Previously, only RNA and herpes DNA viruses have been recognized as capable of inducing leukemia and lymphoma in mammals. The significance of these findings is emphasized in relation to the nature of viral agents that may be involved in analogous diseases of man.