Review article

The role of viruses in human carcinogenesis

Darinka Periša ; Klinika za dermatovenerologiju, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka
Ines Brajac ; Klinika za dermatovenerologiju, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka
Ivica Poljak ; Klinika za infektologiju, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka

Abstract

It is estimated that viral infections contribute to 15-20 % of all human cancers. As obligatory intracellular parasites, viruses encode proteins which reprogramme host cellular signalling pathways which in turn control proliferation, differentiation, cell death, genomic integrity, and recognition by the immune system. Viral systems support the concept that cancer development occurs by accumulation of multiple cooperating events. Viruses are now accepted as etiologic factors of human cancer, and include hepatitis B virus, Epstein-Barr virus, human papillomaviruses, human T-cell leukemia virus and hepatitis C virus, plus several candidate human cancer viruses. Many years may pass between initial infection and tumor appearance. Most infected individuals do not develop cancer, although immunocompromised
individuals are at elevated risk of viral-associated cancers. It is unlikely that a tumor
virus is sufficient to convert a normal cell to a tumor cell. Rather, a combination of the action of viral proteins and cellular gene mutation cooperate to drive tumorogenesis.

Keywords

human tumor viruses; tumorogenesis

Hrčak ID:

71755

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/71755

Publication date:

5.9.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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