Lack of Oncogenic Effect of the H-Viruses for Hamsters

Abstract

BECAUSE the H¹ and RV² viruses are somewhat similar in size to members of the oncogenic papova group, there has been considerable speculation about whether they, too, might have an oncogenic property. Toolan¹ first reported that H-1 virus had not produced tumours in a small group of aged “mongoloid-type” hamsters injected at birth with H-1. Later, Kilham and Maloney³ noted that neoplasms had not been found in any of the species inoculated with RV when newborn, except for a few benign odontogenic tumours.