Retinal tumor induced in the baboon by human adenovirus 12.

Three of 21 newborn baboons injected intraocularly with human adenovirus type 12 developed an intravitreal mass 12 to 36 months later. Two of the masses were indistinguishable from human retinoblastoma, a retinal tumor that afflicts children. To our knowledge this is the first time a retinoblastoma-like tumor has been induced experimentally by adenovirus type 12 in a nonhuman primate.