Insight into Oncogenic Viral Pathways as Drivers of Viral Cancers: Implication for Effective Therapy

Abstract

As per a recent study conducted by the WHO, 15.4% of all cancers are caused by infectious agents of various categories, and more than 10% of them are attributed to viruses. The emergence of COVID-19 has once again diverted the scientific community’s attention toward viral diseases. Some researchers have postulated that SARS-CoV-2 will add its name to the growing list of oncogenic viruses in the long run. However, owing to the complexities in carcinogenesis of viral origin, researchers across the world are struggling to identify the common thread that runs across different oncogenic viruses. Classical pathways of viral oncogenesis have identified oncogenic mediators in oncogenic viruses, but these mediators have been reported to act on diverse cellular and multiple omics pathways. In addition to viral mediators of carcinogenesis, researchers have identified various host factors responsible for viral carcinogenesis. Henceforth owing to viral and host complexities in viral carcinogenesis, a singular mechanistic pathway remains yet to be established; hence there is an urgent need to integrate concepts from system biology, cancer microenvironment, evolutionary perspective, and thermodynamics to understand the role of viruses as drivers of cancer. In the present manuscript, we provide a holistic view of the pathogenic pathways involved in viral oncogenesis with special emphasis on alteration in the tumor microenvironment, genomic alteration, biological entropy, evolutionary selection, and host determinants involved in the pathogenesis of viral tumor genesis. These concepts can provide important insight into viral cancers, which can have an important implication for developing novel, effective, and personalized therapeutic options for treating viral cancers.

Clinical Characterization and Outcomes of Patients with Hypercreatinemia Affected by COVID-19

“…In the present study, COVID-19 patients with hypercreatinemic were found to be in an older age group compared to the normocreatinemic sub-population. These findings are in accordance with a retrospective multicenter study, where patients with kidney dysfunction were in older age groups and were presented with severe manifestations of disease [ 42 , 43 , 44 ]. In the present study, most of the hypercreatinemic patients with COVID-19 were found to have hyper-inflammatory status and coagulopathies, as these patients were having elevated levels of LDH, ferritin, D-Dimer, procalcitonin, Hs-CRP, and IL-1 and IL-6 compared to hypercreatinemic patients with COVID-19.…”

Investigate the impact of ICAM-2 and Neprilysin biomarkers in prostate cancer patients infected with JC virus in AL-Najaf AL-Ashraf Province

“…The discovery of JCV DNA in samples of prostate cancer initiates a conversation about the possible link between JCV infection and the development of prostate cancer [1,14.15] and indicates there were a potential connection between JCV and different types of cancer, such as prostate cancer. The JCV virus is recognized for its capacity to induce cancer in various situations, mainly by disrupting the regulation of the cell cycle and preventing programmed cell death [16,17]. The outcomes of present study are improved by evidence from another studies that indicated that JCV may disrupt cellular signaling pathways in prostate cells and this disruption can affect cell proliferation and survival, potentially initiating tumorigenesis [18,19].…”

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Infection Among Immunocompromised Individuals: A Brief Narrative Review

“… 126 , 127 Third, 15.4% of all cancers are caused by infectious agents of various categories, and more than 10% of them are attributed to viruses, including HBV and HCV. 126 , 127 …”

“…[123][124][125] Second, oncology patients are commonly transfused with blood products, which pose a possible route of HEV transmission. 126,127 Third, 15.4% of all cancers are caused by infectious agents of various categories, and more than 10% of them are attributed to viruses, including HBV and HCV. 126,127 It seems that the incidence of HEV in patients with neoplasms is similar in the general population.…”