Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Modeling and Imaging 3-Dimensional Collective Cell Invasion
Published on: December 7, 2011
Cytoskeletal Remodeling by Oncoviruses: A Key Factor in Tumor Invasion and Metastasisa
Yue Liu1, Yan Zhang1,2, Wen Liu1
1Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Abstract:
Tumor invasion and metastasis, the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, are critically driven by cytoskeletal remodeling, a process extensively hijacked by oncoviruses to promote malignant progression. This review comprehensively examines how oncoviruses-including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and others-remodel key cytoskeletal components such as actin microfilaments, intermediate filaments (IFs), and microtubules (MTs). These virus-induced alterations facilitate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), enhance cell migration, and enable extracellular matrix degradation, thereby fostering tumor spread. We discuss specific mechanisms, including viral protein interactions and the deregulation of signaling pathways such as Rho GTPases and mTOR, which collectively orchestrate cytoskeletal dynamics to support invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, this review highlights emerging therapeutic opportunities, including targeting FSCN1 (Fascin Actin-bundling Protein 1, FSCN1) inhibition or using small-molecule inhibitors to disrupt oncovirus-mediated cytoskeletal changes and impede tumor progression. By bridging virology and cancer biology, this review provides novel insights for developing precision antimetastatic strategies and underscores the pivotal role of viral-cytoskeletal interplay in oncology.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia
Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

