Demonstration of viral antigen p24 in circulating immune complexes of two patients with human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV) positive lymphoma.

Circulating immune complexes from two patients with human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV)-related lymphoma were shown to contain the major internal antigen of the virus, p24. The amount of complex-bound p24 in sequential serum samples correlated roughly with tumour cell mass. Small amounts of complex-bound p24 were detected in samples before a relapse became clinically manifest. Measurement of complex-bound p24 in patients with HTLV-associated lymphomas and leukaemias might thus be helpful in management of malignancies and offer the possibility of detecting imminent relapse and preventing it by intensification of treatment.