Possible association of oncornavirus type D with some forms of human cancer.

The method of molecular hybridization of nucleic acids of oncornavirus type D produced by HEp2 cells with cellular nucleic acids was applied. No sequences homologous to the viral nucleic acids were found in normal human embryo cells as well as in bovine, porcine, murine, and chicken cells. No such sequences were found in tissues of malignant lymphomas. Sequences homologous to the viral nucleic acids were found in some cancer cells, predominantly in hormone-associated tumors of females.