The role of herpes simplex virus in cervical and vulvar cancer.

This report extends the association of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) with cervical cancer to vulvar carcinoma. In addition to seroepidemiologic observations linking prior HSV2 infection to genital cancer, the new evidence involves the neoplasms themselves. Biopsies of cervical and vulvar cancers were found to contain HSV2-specified antigens. The virus-induced antigens are nonstructural DNA-binding proteins normally present in the nuclei of infected cells; however, in the cancer cells they were found in the cytoplasm. Whole virus structural antigens were not detected in the biopsies. In recent years there has been a parallel rise in prevalence of HSV2 infections and vulvar carcinomas, particularly in women under 40 years of age, reaffirming the association of the virus infection and the neoplasms.