Subject(s)
Catheters, Indwelling/microbiology , Central Venous Catheters/microbiology , Cerebellar Neoplasms/drug therapy , Drug Delivery Systems/adverse effects , Medulloblastoma/drug therapy , Catheters, Indwelling/adverse effects , Cerebellar Neoplasms/cerebrospinal fluid , Cerebellar Neoplasms/microbiology , Cerebellar Neoplasms/surgery , Cerebral Ventriculitis/cerebrospinal fluid , Cerebral Ventriculitis/etiology , Cerebral Ventriculitis/microbiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Injections, Intraventricular , Medulloblastoma/cerebrospinal fluid , Medulloblastoma/microbiology , Medulloblastoma/surgery , Meningitis, Bacterial/cerebrospinal fluid , Meningitis, Bacterial/etiology , Meningitis, Bacterial/microbiology , Staphylococcal Infections/etiology , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Staphylococcus epidermidis/isolation & purificationSubject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/microbiology , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic , JC Virus/physiology , Medulloblastoma/microbiology , Oncogenic Viruses , Polyomavirus/physiology , Animals , Astrocytoma/analysis , Astrocytoma/microbiology , Brain Neoplasms/analysis , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Line , Cricetinae , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/analysis , Humans , Medulloblastoma/analysis , Medulloblastoma/pathology , MesocricetusABSTRACT
The newer methods of molecular virology, including molecular hybridization and the "simultaneous detection test," were used to examine human brain tumors for evidence of RNA tumor viruses. It was found that they contained 70S RNA and RNA-directed DNA polymerase, both encapsulated in a particle possessing a density of 1.17 g/ml. These particles therefore satisfy the three diagnostic features that characterize the animal RNA tumor viruses. Of 26 of the most malignant (glioblastoma and medullo blastoma) brain tumors examined, 24 (92%) contained these virus-like entities. The possible usefulness of these particles as aids in diagnosis and monitoring therapy is briefly discussed.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/microbiology , Glioma/microbiology , Medulloblastoma/microbiology , RNA Viruses/isolation & purification , Astrocytoma/analysis , Brain Neoplasms/analysis , DNA Nucleotidyltransferases/analysis , Glioma/analysis , Humans , Medulloblastoma/analysis , Nucleic Acid Hybridization , RNA, Viral/analysisABSTRACT
We have previously shown that neoplastic cells of human breast cancers, leukemias, lymphomas, and sarcomas contain particles similar to the viruses that have been established as etiologic agents of these diseases in mice. The present paper concerns tumors of the central nervous system for which no suitable animal model or corresponding virus exists. Nevertheless, using the simultaneous detection test, we showed that human brain tumors contain 70S RNA and RNA-directed DNA polymerase encapsulated in a particulate component possessing a density of 1.17 g/ml. These particles satisfy the three diagnostic criteria that characterize RNA tumor viruses of animals. 24 Out of 26 (92%) of the most malignant (glioblastoma and medulloblastoma) brain tumors examined contained these virus-like entities.