Abstract
Tumor, lymph node, and skin biopsies of Kepesl's sercome (KS) patients were obtained from different high incidence areas of equatorial Africa and France. A total of 51 lines were established in tissue culture: 25 derived from tumor, 16 from lymph nodes, and 10 from skin biopsies. Long-term cultures had distinct, irregular growth patterns of cells, often noncontact-inhibited, with predominantly fibroblastoid or epithelioid characteristics. Cells were easily removed from the glass surface by trypsin and showed acid phosphatase and phagocytic activity to various degrees. Of 8 cultures (derived from cases of different regions) selected for study in greater detail, herpes-type viruses were observed in electron micrographs of 5. Comparative immunologic studies showed a common, precipitating, soluble antigen against human reference sera with high anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) but low anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) titers. In 4 cases, with high anti-EBV but low anti-CMV reactive sera from African Burkittts lymphoma patients, a common antigen was demonstrated. The possible implications of these results are discussed.
