Evidence for the Association of Cytomegalovirus with Carcinoma of the Prostate

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Abstract
A human genital isolate of cytomegalovirus is shown to have transformed human embryonic lung cells in vitro. These cells produce tumors when injected into athymic nude mice. Two cell lines derived from tissue from human prostatic carcinoma survived more than 20 passages in vitro and demonstrated cytomegalovirus-specific membrane antigen. Significant humoral antibody titers against cytomegalovirus were demonstrated. Cell-mediated lymphocytotoxicity against these transformed cells was demonstrated in patients with urinary tract tumors. This evidence indicates that an association between cytomegalovirus and human prostatic cancer may be more than coincidental.