Antibody to early and late antigens of herpes simplex virus type 1 in patients with oral cancer.

HEp-2 cells were infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and harvested at selected times thereafter. IgG, IgA, and IgM antibody to virus antigens present in these cells at each time was measured in sera from oral cancer patients, and in matched controls. The IgA response of oral cancer patients was significantly greater than that of controls both at 8 and at 48 hours after infection, but showed no difference in response to HSV-1 virus particles. IgM antibody detected two peaks of antigen synthesis, at 4 and 48 hours after infection. Oral cancer patients had a stronger IgM response than did controls to both early and late peaks; the latter was significant at the 5% level. Oral cancer patients also had a significantly higher IgM response to the virus particle. These results imply the existence of at least two different HSV-1 antigens associated with oral cancer. Both are late antigens; one is recognized by IgA, and the other is recognized by IgM antibody.