More About Herpes

The growing suspicion that mem bers of the herpes family of viruses may play a role in human cancer (TIME, April 23) was heightened even more last week by the revelations of a noted medical researcher. Dr. Albert Sabin, developer of the live-virus polio vaccine, told the National Academy of Sciences that the herpes simplex Type I virus (responsible for cold sores) may also cause cancers of the lip, mouth and throat, while the herpes Type II virus (which causes genital infections and has already been associated with cancer of the cervix) should also be considered suspect in other cancers of the genitourinary tract.

Sabin bases his case against the her pes viruses on studies conducted at the National Cancer Institute with Dr. Giulio Tarro of the University of Naples. The pair found "footprints" -- antibodies produced by the body in response to the herpes viruses -- in 56 patients with cancers of the lip, mouth, nose and throat, kidney, bladder, prostate, cervix and vulva. There was no trace of the antibodies in 81 patients with other malignancies, such as cancers of the lung, breast and lymphatic system, or in 51 patients without cancer.

Sabin considers his findings proof that the viruses help to cause cancer in "certain individuals under special conditions." But many researchers believe that more evidence is essential before they can indict -- let alone convict -- herpes. Although women who have had genital, or Type II herpes, infections do seem more susceptible to cervical cancer than those who have not, the fact remains that most women with Type II infections do not develop cervical cancer. There is even less evidence to implicate herpes Type I. A large percent age of people at some time in their lives develop the cold sores that it causes. Yet, like those who never have such infections, only a tiny fraction of the cold-sore sufferers develop cancer.

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