The SV40 Cancer Foundation is an educational organization devoted to raising awareness about a potential link between the
simian
The simians, anthropoids, or higher primates are an infraorder (Simiiformes ) of primates containing all animals traditionally called monkeys and apes. More precisely, they consist of the parvorders New World monkeys (Platyrrhini) and Catarrhi ...
virus
SV40 and human
cancer.
The SV40 Cancer Foundation was founded by Raphaele and Michael Horwin. The Horwin's son Alexander Horwin was born on June 7, 1996, and was given oral
polio vaccine in November 1997. On August 10, 1998, Alexander was diagnosed with
medulloblastoma, a malignant (cancerous) pediatric
brain tumor, leading to his death on January 31, 1999. The Horwins contend that the polio vaccine their son ingested was
contaminated with SV40, leading to his death. Tests performed at four laboratories on Alexander's brain tissue demonstrated the presence of the virus.
The SV40 Cancer Foundation views their mission as raising public awareness of this threat and
lobbying for more research funding for this area. On September 10, 2003, the Horwins got Congressman
Dan Burton, Chair of the
Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness,
United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform to hold a hearing into
SV40 contamination of vaccines.
The United States National Cancer Institute announced in 2004 that although SV40 does cause cancer in some animal models, "substantial epidemiological evidence has accumulated to indicate that SV40 likely does not cause cancer in humans."
[NIH/National Cancer Institute. "Studies Find No Evidence That Simian Virus 40 Is Related To Human Cancer." ScienceDaily, 25 August 2004. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/08/040825092736.htm.]
References
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External links
SV40 Cancer Foundation 'SV40 stands for Simian Virus 40' official websitewebsite in memory of Alexander Horwin
Medical and health foundations in the United States