Chronic Viral Infections and Cancer: Openings for Vaccines and Cure

Dear Colleagues,

Specific human virus infections are the primary cause of cancer. These viral infections are estimated to lead to about 10% of the global cancer burden. Key oncogenic viruses include Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Human papillomaviruses (HPV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), Human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1), Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8). HPVs exist in hundreds of genotypes, of which at least 14 are of high oncogenic risk (HR) and cause cancer in men and women, including anal, cervical, penile, throat, vaginal, and vulvar cancer. HR HPV- and HBV-associated cancers are the only cancers which currently can be prevented by prophylactic vaccination. HCV is a significant cause of liver cancer, but lacks a vaccine, although it can be treated with antiviral drugs. EBV is linked to several lymphomas and stomach cancer, and there is currently no vaccine for it. HIV-1, while not a direct cause of cancer, weakens the immune system and facilitates the development of cancers, with no available vaccine.

Understanding these oncogenic viruses has paved the way for interventions such as vaccines, screening for persistent infections, and antiviral therapies. Identifying additional oncogenic viruses and uncovering their mechanisms will further enhance preventive and therapeutic strategies against viral infections and related cancers.

This Special Issue welcomes submissions of experimental papers, short communications, reviews, and activity reports focusing on the above issues. Cordial invitation to submit is addressed to the speakers of the international online conference “Chronic viral infections and cancer, openings for vaccines and cure” VIRCAN2024 held at Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia, November 21–22, 2024 (https://www.rsu.lv/en/vircan2024-conference).

Dr. Maria G. Isaguliants
Dr. Karl Ljungberg
Guest Editors

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