Seroprevalence of HTLV I-II, HIV and HCV Antibodies in Lymphoma, Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV I), which has a worldwide distribution, is the first human retrovirus mainly to be asso- ciated with malignant diseases, such as adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma and bronchioloalveolar carcinoma. Tip II (HTLV II), a retro- virus having genomic homology with the HTLV I, has not been proven to be a pathogenic virus so far. Hepatitis C virus (HCV), an RNA virus, is the cause of acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV syn. HTLV III), is a factor in AIDS. Studies on the development of malignant diseases of these viruses are restricted in all over the world, there is no detailed study was found in our country as well. In this study, the seropositivity of HTLV I-II, HIV and HCV viruses in lymphoma and head and neck cancer patients and the relationship between these viruses and these cancers evaluated. As a result HTLV I-II sero- positivity was found in 2 of 86 lymphoma and 2 of 80 head and neck cancer patients. There is a need for further large studies rela- ted to those and other viral agents caused malignancies.