MICROBIAL TRIGGERS OF CARCINOGENESIS THE INTERSECTION OF INFECTION, HISTOPATHOLOGY, AND TUMOR BIOLOGY

Abstract

    Cancer is conventionally seen as a hereditary disorder; nonetheless, a substantial proportion of human malignancies originate from microbial infections, especially viruses. Oncogenic viruses cause persistent infection, change cellular genomes, disrupt cell-cycle regulation, and encourage unchecked growth. Infectious agents include human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV), human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) are responsible for around 15–20% of all cancer cases worldwide. Comprehending their mechanisms facilitates the development of vaccines and antiviral therapies and offers profound insights into tumor biology. The microbiological and molecular mechanisms by which these viruses contribute to oncogenesis are examined in this review.