Failure to detect papovavirus-associated T antigens in human brain tumor cells by anticomplement immunofluorescence

Abstract
To probe the possible presence of papovavirus-related T [tumor] antigen(s) in human brain tumors, the imprinted or cultured cells at various passage levels were examined by anticomplement immunofluorescence using antisera to T antigen of each BK virus, JC virus and simian virus 40. No T antigen was demonstrated in any tests with cells derived from 69 patients with various brain tumors. Tumor cell strains (22) cultured in the presence of a tumor promoter, phorbol ester, also failed to show the T antigen.