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Role of infectious diseases in human carcinogenesis

Luis A Herrera1, Luis Benítez-Bribiesca, Alejandro Mohar

  • 1Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas-Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, México.

Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis
|March 4, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Infectious agents like viruses, bacteria, and helminths contribute to a significant portion of global cancer cases. This review explores the known links between infections and cancer development and their underlying mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious disease epidemiology
  • Oncology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Infectious diseases affect billions globally, posing a significant public health challenge.
  • A substantial percentage of human cancers are linked to infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and helminths.
  • The long-term consequences of infections, particularly their association with chronic diseases like cancer, warrant thorough investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review infectious agents associated with cancer.
  • To summarize current knowledge on the mechanisms linking infection and malignancy.
  • To highlight established and speculative associations between specific pathogens and cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific articles and epidemiological data.
  • Analysis of established etiological links between infectious agents and specific cancers.
  • Exploration of proposed molecular and cellular mechanisms of oncogenesis driven by pathogens.

Main Results:

  • Viruses (e.g., human papillomavirus), bacteria (e.g., Helicobacter pylori), and helminths (e.g., Schistosoma haematobium) are linked to specific cancers.
  • An estimated 13-20% of global cancer cases are attributable to infectious agents.
  • Mechanisms range from direct DNA damage to chronic inflammation and immune modulation.

Conclusions:

  • Infections are a significant and preventable cause of cancer worldwide.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate mechanisms for speculative associations and identify novel pathogen-cancer links.

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