Can flukes cause cancer? Insight into molecular links between parasites and carcinogenesis

Cancer deaths are increasing year by year worldwide. Many factors contribute to the development of cancer, including genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as environmental factors such as diet, physical activity, stimulants (tobacco, alcohol), exposure to excessive UV radiation, stress, and infections. In recent years, many studies have shown a strong correlation between parasitic infections and the oncogenic process leading to the development of human cancers. Studies indicate an association between progressive inflammation, risk of infection, or bacterial/viral co-infection during parasitosis and oncogenesis. This article discusses six species of flukes listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma mansoni, Opisthorchis viverrini, Clonorchis sinensis, and Opisthorchis felineus) for their carcinogenic potential, biology, and epidemiology. Particular attention was paid to the molecular mechanisms that are altered during fluke invasion, which ultimately lead to the development of neoplastic lesions in humans and animals.