Simian Virus 40 (SV40)

SV40 is an abbreviation for Simian vacuolating virus 40 or Simian virus 40, a virus that is found in both monkeys and humans. Like other polyomaviruses, SV40 is a DNA virus that has the potential to cause tumors.

Additional Information

No Proof Polio Vaccine Later Caused Cancer (10/23/02)

Vaccine safety experts reported Tuesday that they could not say whether contaminated polio (news web sites) vaccine given decades ago to millions of Americans caused cancer later in life. More...


Legal Documents Raise Question of Whether Polio Vaccines Remained Tainted With SV40 After 1961, HarrisMartin Reports. (12/13/00)

The author of a paper set to appear later this month in a cancer research journal says there is reason to doubt claims that oral polio vaccines distributed in recent decades were free of simian virus 40 (SV40), HarrisMartin Publishing reports. More...


SV40, Asbestos, and Mesothelioma - Where Are We Going? (11/7/00)

Lately, there has been a little more buzz than usual about SV40. Simian (i.e. monkey) virus 40, a DNA tumor virus, is believed to have been introduced to a significant portion of the human population between 1955 and 1963 through polio vaccines. The polio vaccines were prepared in the kidney cells of rhesus monkeys, and apparently were contaminated with SV40 present in those cells. More...


SV40 Sequences in Mesothelioma Predict Poorer Survival (10/2/00)

Italian researchers have found that expression of simian virus-40 sequences in biopsy specimens from patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma is significantly associated with poor prognosis, particularly in tumors with biphasic or sarcomatous morphology. Their findings are reported in the October issue of Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer. More...


SV40, Asbestos and Mesothelioma: Hot Potato, Red Herring or Silver Bullet? (9/18/00)

Depending upon whom we represent, asbestos lawyers either eagerly await or dread any new scientific research on SV40. More...


SV40: Potential Vaccine for Mesothelioma? (3/4/99)

Conculsion.... Accumulating evidence that there is an association between SV40 Tag and human mesotheliomas, osteosarcomas, epdnymomas, and choroid plexus tumors indicates potential clinical utility for a SV40 Tag-specific recombinant vaccine that can be administered practically and safely to human subjects. (Emphasis added) More...


Polio Vaccine Does Not Increase Cancer Risk, NIH (1/28/98)

The tens of millions of Americans who were vaccinated with a contaminated poliovirus vaccine between 1955 and 1963 can breathe a little easier today with the release of new findings that the vaccine does not increase the risk of cancer. Mroe...


Dr. Carbone Responds to SV40 Controversy. (8/7/97)

Dear Mr Worthington:

I read the synopsis about the association of SV40 with human mesothelioma that you made based on the meeting that was held in Philadelphia in May 97. I hope you will find useful the following information: More...