A Status Report – Human Prostatic Carcinoma, with Emphasis on Potential for Viral Etiology

Abstract

Several parameters of the biology of cancer of the prostate were reviewed with a continuing assessment of the possible etiologic role of virus. These aspects include epidemiology, clinical studies, morphology, pathology, enzymology, immunology, endocrinology, model animal studies, in vitro systems and viral investigations. From available literature it is concluded that, to date, the association with several urogenital tissues of herpes-type viruses was best documented. A fundamental barrier to more sophisticated virologic and biologic studies is the lack of long term cell cultures of normal and pathologic prostate epithelium from males of all ages.