Herpes type-2 virus antigens in human cervical carcinoma.

Exfoliated cells from the cervices of 22 patients with histologically diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and from those of 24 control women were examined for herpes subtype 2 (HT-2) antigens by indirect immunofluorescence studies. This method demonstrated that cells from all the patients with carcinoma contained antigens related to HT-2 virus. In contrast, squamous cells from the cervices of 24 control women with no cervical disease and of 2 women with chronic cervicitis did not contain such HT-2 antigens. Although an etiologic role of HT-2 virus infection cannot yet be established, it is probable that such infection precedes neoplastic changes.