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Viruses
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Oncogenic Infections and Cancer: Clinical Insights and Emerging Therapeutics
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Oncogenic Infections and Cancer: Clinical Insights and Emerging Therapeutics

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 5555

Special Issue Editors

Dr. G. Hossein Ashrafi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Life Science, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University London, London, UK
Interests: human papillomavirus (HPV); varicella zoster virus (VZV); viral oncology; cancer therapeutics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ozdogan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medical Oncology, Memorial Cancer Center, Antalya, Turkey
Interests: cancer biology; clinical oncology; cancer therapeutics; head and neck cancers; human papilloma virus; HPV-related cancers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Oncogenic infections play a significant role in cancer development, influencing tumor progression, immune responses, and treatment outcomes. While human papillomavirus (HPV) is a well-established driver of cervical, anogenital, and oropharyngeal cancers, other oncogenic infections—including Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV), Hepatitis B and C Viruses (HBV, HCV), Human T-lymphotropic Virus (HTLV-1), Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV), and Helicobacter pylori—are major contributors to global cancer incidence. Understanding the complex interactions between these infectious agents and cancer progression is critical for improving early detection, prevention, and treatment strategies.

This Special Issue, entitled "Oncogenic Infections and Cancer: Clinical Insights and Emerging Therapeutics", aims to provide a comprehensive platform to explore the clinical landscape of infection-driven cancers, focusing on molecular mechanisms, diagnostic biomarkers, and emerging therapeutic strategies. We invite contributions covering a wide array of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • HPV-Associated Cancers: Investigations into HPV integration, immunotherapy resistance, and natural or synthetic therapeutic agents targeting HPV-driven tumors;
  • EBV and KSHV in Cancer Development: Insights into their role in lymphomas, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and novel antiviral or immunotherapeutic approaches;
  • Hepatitis Viruses and Liver Cancer: Advances in targeting viral persistence in hepatocellular carcinoma, addressing HBV reactivation and developing immunotherapy-based treatments;
  • Bacterial Oncogenesis and Gastric Cancer: Exploring Helicobacter pylori’s impact on gastric tumorigenesis, antibiotic resistance, and the role of gut microbiota in treatment response;
  • Translational Advances in Virus-Associated Cancers: The role of viral oncogenes in tumor microenvironment modulation, CRISPR-based strategies, and targeted drug discovery;
  • Immunotherapy and Vaccine Developments: Innovations in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and strategies to overcome resistance in virally induced malignancies.

We welcome contributions from researchers, clinicians, and experts in the field to foster a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying oncogenic infections and their impact on cancer. This Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource for advancing novel therapeutic approaches and improving clinical outcomes for infection-driven cancers. Muharrem Okan Cakir will provide valuable support to the co-Editor and Editors by participating in manuscript reviews, facilitating effective communication with reviewers, ensuring the maintenance of quality standards, and collating reviewer comments. Additionally, he will be involved in communicating the final decision to the corresponding authors. Together, we aim to contribute to advancements in the understanding and management of infection-driven malignancies.

Dr. G. Hossein Ashrafi
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ozdogan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Viruses is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • oncogenesis
  • viral oncology
  • bacterial oncogenesis
  • human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)
  • Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)
  • hepatitis B virus (HBV)
  • hepatitis C virus (HCV)
  • human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1)
  • Helicobacter pylori
  • infection-driven cancers
  • molecular mechanisms
  • tumor microenvironment
  • immunotherapy
  • viral persistence
  • antiviral therapies
  • CRISPR-based treatments
  • cancer prevention
  • vaccine development
  • immune checkpoint inhibitors
  • diagnostic biomarkers
  • personalized medicine
  • translational oncology
  • therapeutic resistance
  • emerging therapeutics

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1658 KB  
Article
HBV Infection Drives PSMB5-Dependent Proteasomal Activation in Humanized Mice and HBV-Associated HCC
by Ayse Tarbin Jannuzzi, Gulce Sari, Sema Arslan-Eseryel, Mujdat Zeybel, Yusuf Yilmaz, Murat Dayangac, Buket Yigit, Kazim Yalcin Arga, Andre Boonstra, Fatih Eren and Betul Karademir-Yilmaz
Viruses 2025, 17(11), 1454; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17111454 - 31 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 985
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver malignancy worldwide, is strongly associated with chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, a significant risk factor. The ubiquitin–proteasome system, central to protein degradation, cellular homeostasis, and cell cycle regulation, has been implicated in the pathogenesis [...] Read more.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver malignancy worldwide, is strongly associated with chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, a significant risk factor. The ubiquitin–proteasome system, central to protein degradation, cellular homeostasis, and cell cycle regulation, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several cancers, including HCC. Despite this, the specific expression patterns of proteasomal subunits during HBV infection and HBV-induced HCC, as well as the association between mRNA expression of proteasomal subunits and proteasomal activity, remain poorly defined. To address this critical knowledge gap, we analyzed mRNA expression profiles of proteasomal subunits in HBV-infected humanized mouse models to uncover HBV-specific molecular alterations. Our findings revealed that the chymotrypsin-like activity (β5) subunit of the proteasome (PSMB5) is consistently overexpressed following HBV infection. Functional studies demonstrated that β5 deficiency decreases MHC I levels on the cell surface and leads to the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, establishing a direct link between β5 overexpression and increased proteasomal activity. Concordantly, HBV-infected patient livers—regardless of HCC status—displayed elevated β5 mRNA/protein levels and enhanced chymotrypsin-like activity. Additionally, analysis of Protein Atlas data revealed that elevated β5 mRNA expression correlates with poor clinical prognosis in HCC patients. In summary, this study highlights how HBV infection induces significant alterations in proteasome function by elevating β5 expression and activity in human and mouse livers. These findings underscore the critical role of proteasomal dysregulation in HBV-associated liver pathology and provide new insights into its involvement in HCC development. Understanding the interplay between HBV infection and proteasome dynamics offers a valuable avenue for the identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers in HCC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Infections and Cancer: Clinical Insights and Emerging Therapeutics)
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Review

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28 pages, 3125 KB  
Review
Molecular Insights into HPV-Driven Head and Neck Cancers: From Viral Oncoproteins to Precision Therapeutics
by Mustafa Ozdogan, Gizem Tutkun, Muharrem Okan Cakir and Gholam Hossein Ashrafi
Viruses 2025, 17(9), 1276; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17091276 - 20 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2836
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a major role in the development of head and neck cancers (HNCs), particularly oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. This review highlights the key molecular mechanisms of HPV-driven carcinogenesis, focusing on the oncogenic E6 and E7 proteins and their disruption of [...] Read more.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a major role in the development of head and neck cancers (HNCs), particularly oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. This review highlights the key molecular mechanisms of HPV-driven carcinogenesis, focusing on the oncogenic E6 and E7 proteins and their disruption of tumor suppressor pathways and epigenetic regulation. We discuss the rising prevalence of HPV-related HNCs, their distinct clinical features, and diagnostic approaches such as p16 immunohistochemistry and HPV DNA/RNA detection. HPV-positive tumors show better prognosis and response to treatment, prompting interest in therapy de-escalation. Emerging strategies including immune checkpoint inhibitors, therapeutic vaccines, CRISPR-based gene editing, and ctDNA monitoring are advancing precision oncology in this field. We also examine the preventive potential of HPV vaccination and ongoing research into its role across various HNC subtypes. A deeper understanding of HPV’s molecular impact may guide more effective, targeted, and less toxic interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Infections and Cancer: Clinical Insights and Emerging Therapeutics)
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Other

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15 pages, 1910 KB  
Systematic Review
Global Prevalence and Cancer Risk of Epstein–Barr Virus and Human Papillomavirus Coinfection in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Abdelrahman A. Karen, Albara S. Elkhalaf, Omar Tluli, Omar Sorour, Abdulnaser Fakhrou, Mohammed Imad Malki and Karim Nagi
Viruses 2025, 17(12), 1592; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17121592 - 8 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1082
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and a dominant cause of cancer mortality among women worldwide. Alongside established risk factors, recent studies highlight oncoviruses like Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) as potential contributors. However, their role and [...] Read more.
Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and a dominant cause of cancer mortality among women worldwide. Alongside established risk factors, recent studies highlight oncoviruses like Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) as potential contributors. However, their role and association with BC development is still debatable. Study design and Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis involved two distinct approaches: one assessing the worldwide prevalence of EBV and HPV coinfection in BC patients and another investigating the association between such coinfection and BC risk. A systematic search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase was conducted up to 5 May 2025. Studies using PCR to detect both viruses in breast tissue samples were included. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled prevalence and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Out of 307 non-duplicate records, 16 studies were found to be eligible for quantitative analysis. The pooled prevalence of EBV/HPV coinfection among BC patients was 14% (95% CI: 12–16%; I2 = 91.0%). Prevalence varied by region, ranging from 6% in South America to 22% in the Middle East. In addition, a general trend towards increasing EBV/HPV coinfection prevalence among women with BC over time was detected. Moreover, analyzing case–control studies to investigate the relationship between EBV/HPV coinfection and the risk of BC, the pooled odds ratio was 5.87 (95% CI: 2.31–14.93; I2 = 0%, p = 0.91). Conclusion: Our analysis shows that EBV and HPV coinfection prevalence varies by region and appears to be rising over time among women with breast cancer. Additionally, the strong statistical association between coinfection and breast cancer risk suggests a potential role for these oncoviruses in disease development, highlighting the possible preventive value of EBV and HPV vaccination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Infections and Cancer: Clinical Insights and Emerging Therapeutics)
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