SV40: A human pathogen?

Over the past eight years an increasing number of investiga-tors have found SV40 genomic sequences in a variety of hu-man samples, both malignant and normal. Tumor types recur-rently reported as SV40-positive include choroid plexus neo-plasms, ependymomas, osteosarcomas, and mesotheliomas. Nonetheless, considerable skepticism that SV40 is a human pathogen still prevails. More constructively, the study of SV40 in humans has renewed interest in the related BK and JC viruses and their role in human disease. New questions now must be addressed. In particular, seroepidemiologic studies utilizing reagents that distinguish SV40, BKV, and JCV immune responses would be a logical next step for inde-pendently assessing viral prevalence. Also, prospective stud-ies of select patient groups using optimized detection meth-ods might determine whether SV40 is associated with human oncogenesis in particular circumstances. The importance of such research is underscored by the potential to prevent hu-man polyomavirus infections, and possible associated malig-nancy, through immunization of high risk populations. 1