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Tumor Viruses: Infection, Carcinogenesis, and Treatment

A Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) belonging to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 1299

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Guest Editor
Department of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: gene; infectious diseases; herpesviruses; pharmacology and toxicology; molecular medicine; oncology and hematology; cardiovascular diseases; natural products; drug discovery; analytical and bioanalytical techniques
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tumor viruses represent a significant class of pathogens that contribute to human malignancies by establishing persistent infections, modulating host immune responses, and disrupting normal cellular processes through genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Several viruses—including Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV), human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV)—are well-established human oncogenic viruses. In addition, a growing number of viruses are being investigated for their potential roles in tumor initiation and progression, warranting broader exploration.

This Special Issue will delve into the multifaceted roles of tumor viruses in carcinogenesis, with a focus on key processes such as viral latency, immune evasion, oncogene expression, and the hijacking of host signaling pathways. We will also highlight state-of-the-art developments in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of virus-associated cancers. This includes progress in antiviral drug development, therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines, immune-based therapies, and innovative gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas systems.

We invite the submission of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, communications, and perspective papers that advance our understanding of tumor viruses and their role in oncogenesis. Submissions that support translational research, clinical innovation, or public health impact are particularly encouraged. This Special Issue aims to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue in oncogenic virology and promote the development of novel strategies for the management of virus-associated malignancies.

Dr. Sherif T.S. Hassan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • tumor viruses
  • viral oncogenesis
  • EBV, HPV, KSHV, HBV, HCV, HTLV-1, and MCPyV
  • virus-associated cancers
  • merging oncoviruses
  • viral latency
  • immune evasion
  • antiviral therapy
  • immunotherapy
  • cancer vaccines
  • gene-editing technologies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

36 pages, 2581 KB  
Review
Viral Genomic Footprints in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Tissue-Based Detection of Epstein–Barr Virus and Bovine Leukemia Virus
by Georgia Margioula-Siarkou, Chrysoula Margioula-Siarkou, Eleftherios Vavoulidis, Stefanos Flindris, Stamatios Petousis, Costas Haitoglou, Georgios Mavromatidis and Konstantinos Dinas
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(10), 4452; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104452 - 15 May 2026
Viewed by 695
Abstract
Viral carcinogenesis as a causative mechanism of breast cancer has been intensively researched during the last decades. The role of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and Bovine Leukemia virus (BLV) in breast oncogenesis has been investigated in a plethora of studies, but with conflicting results. [...] Read more.
Viral carcinogenesis as a causative mechanism of breast cancer has been intensively researched during the last decades. The role of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and Bovine Leukemia virus (BLV) in breast oncogenesis has been investigated in a plethora of studies, but with conflicting results. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the frequency of molecular detection of the EBV genome and BLV genome between women with breast cancer and women without malignant breast tumors. This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Cochrane CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to 20 May 2024. Included studies were those comparing the frequency of molecular detection of the EBV and/or BLV genome in breast tissue specimens with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods between patients with breast cancer and women without breast malignancies. The primary outcomes of the study were the frequency of molecular detection of the EBV genome and BLV genome. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. A total of 29 studies met the selection criteria and were included in this meta-analysis; 19 studies reported results for molecular detection of the EBV genome, 9 studies for detection of the BLV genome and 1 study for detection of genomic material of both viruses. The frequency of molecular detection of viral genomes was significantly higher in patients with breast cancer, compared to women with healthy breasts or benign breast diseases, regarding both EBV (OR: 3.041, 95% CI: 1.791 to 5.164, p < 0.0001) and BLV (OR: 3.459, 95% CI: 2.118 to 5.650, p < 0.0001). The frequency of molecular detection of EBV and BLV genomes is higher, in a statistically significant manner, in patients with breast cancer compared to women without breast malignancies. The presence of these viral factors in breast tissue could imply their potential contribution in breast carcinogenesis, but is not sufficient to establish it, and the molecular detection of their genomes could be potentially exploited in the future for preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Further studies are required to thoroughly investigate and establish a causal relationship between EBV and BLV infection and breast carcinogenesis, as well as to support the use of viral genome molecular detection in clinical settings for the management of breast cancer patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tumor Viruses: Infection, Carcinogenesis, and Treatment)
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