The role of viruses in human cancer development and antiviral approaches for intervention

Abstract

Viruses are estimated to be linked to at least 15% of human cancers. Hepatitis B and C viruses, human papilloma viruses, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpes virus-8 and human T-cell leukemia virus have been definitively linked to human cancer. A brief overview of the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis elucidated for these viruses and antiviral approaches which may provide clues to reducing the occurrence or progression of the resulting virally derived cancers are described.