Viruses and Cancer
Viruses insert themselves into host cell DNA in order to make more virus particles. Cancer is a disease that occurs as the result of mutations or alterations to DNA. Because viruses affect the DNA of host cells, viruses are known to contribute to several different types of cancer. Viruses known to increase the risk of cancer include:
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) for nasopharyngeal cancer, Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and stomach cancer
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C for liver cancer
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for Kaposi sarcoma, invasive cervical cancer, lymphomas, and other cancers
Human T-lymphotrophic virus-1 (HTLV-1) for T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL)
Human papilloma virus (HPV) for cervical cancer
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) for a rare skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma