Possible relation between viruses and oromaxillofacial tumors. II. Research on the presence of the SV40 antigen and specific antibodies in patients with oromaxillofacial tumors

SV40 antigen was detected on sections through malignant oromaxillofacial tumors in 47.8% of the cases, with a higher incidence among the epithelium originating tumors. Anti-SV40 CF antibodies were detected in 83.6% of the examined subjects with cancer, but only in 57.9% of the blood donors. The titers were quite low in general. The results are discussed from the point of view of the immunologic status of the patients.