Carcinogenic parasites: insights into the epidemiology and possible mechanisms of cancer

Naturally, a wide range of genetic and environmental variables predominate, such as bacterial, viral, and parasite infective entities that have been identified as carcinogenic bioagents. Many helminth and protozoan parasitic diseases are liable to cause human cancer. Conveniently, three trematode parasites viz. Schistosoma haematobium, Opisthorchis viverrini, and Clonorchis sinensis have been reported to be intrinsically linked with human cancer. Similar studies for other parasitic infections are still imprecise and need further validation. Plasmodium falciparum is known to cause holoendemic Burkitt lymphoma despite the non-carcinogenic role of malaria. This review is endowed with a coupled correlation and underlying mechanisms by which parasitic infections lead to carcinogenicity. An empirical documentation covering the prevalence and incidence of viral, bacterial, and parasitic carcinogenicity is illustrated in this article. Moreover, some probable diagnostic and treatment procedures for parasitic carcinogenicity are also summarized. A detailed account of various mutational and genetic changes that lead to carcinogenesis via different pathways is appended in this article.