"We have found that among homosexual men, the cancers are occurring in people who are much younger, primarily in their 20s and 30s. That has led us to believe the lymphomas are associated with the HTLV-3 virus-the same virus associated with AIDS."

"Live virus has been reported in the blood of PGL patients at the same time antibodies were present. Fortunately for many patients, PGL may go on for a long time and not progress into AIDS," [Alexandra M. Levine] said.

Levine said she believes that there are three stages that occur before development of AIDS-a stage she calls silent prior to viral exposure, PGL, and finally, the lymphomas or classic AIDS.