CANCER VIROLOGY

Coordinators:

Dr. Robert M. McAllister Dr. Yohei Ito

Informal seminars and exchange of information between scientists have been advantageous for both the U.S. and Japanese scientists in this field. The first joint seminar was held on “Recent Advances in Tumor Virology” in March 1975 in Hawaii. The main purpose of the meeting was to enable the scientists to familiarize themselves with on-going research on RNA and DNA viruses in each country. The seminar consisted of two sessions, DNA tumor virus and RNA tumor virus oncogenesis. The former session included transforming activities and the other gene functions of polyoma and SV 40 viruses. Studies of human adenovirus genomes in transformed hamster cells were reported. Cellular transformation by Epstein Barr virus and by the herpes simplex viruses were discribed, as was the use of the Shope papilloma-carcinoma complex as a model for human cancer research.
In the session of “Oncogenesis by RNA viruses”, the problem of virus-cell interaction in both avian and murine systems was emphasized. The natural history of the wild mouse type-C viruses and the host range and effects upon cellular differentiation by laboratory strains of mouse virus were reported. The characteristics of RD-114 virus in its extracellular type-C virus and intracellular DNA proviral forms were presented. The genetic expressions in mouse and human cells of type-C viral proteins and of infective viruses were described.
The meeting was useful for its overview of the latest studies on viral oncology in the respective countries. The lengthy discussions tackled the general topic of how to effectively advance the knowledge of viruses in human carcinogenesis.
There has also been exchange of materials, such as purified virus preparation, specific anti-sera, enzyme preparations and reagents which are not available from commercial sources in Japan. These materials provided by the NCI Viral Oncology Program have been greatly appreciated by the Japanese viral oncologists and will contribute enormously to their future investigations. As for the exchange of personnel, more emphasis was put on the field of human cancer virus candidates; EBV and Herpes Type I and II. Three scientists were sent from Japan to the U.S. to obtain latest information and advance techniques in these areas.
The second seminar is planned for March 1976 in Kyoto to discuss the newly emerging concept for the unique host-parasite relationship observed between the etiological viral agent and the host cells at the molecular, submolecular and gene levels. DNA tumor viruses and RNA tumor viruses are the main session topics for the seminar and the RNA sessions include the discussion of avian and mammalian viruses. Discussion to assess the possible role of viral agents in the etiology of human neoplasia is expected.