title: Carcinogenic viruses and solid cancers without sufficient evidence of causal association.
abstract: Viral infections are important risk factors for tumor development in humans. Selected types of cancers, either lymphomas or carcinomas, for which there is sufficient evidence in humans of a causal association with specific viruses, have been identified. Experimental and clinical data on the possible association of other tumor types and carcinogenic viruses are presently controversial. In this article, we review the current evidence on the relationship between breast, colorectal and lung cancers and carcinogenic viruses. The majority of the publications reviewed do not provide definitive evidence that the viruses studied are associated with breast, colon and lung cancers. However, since this association may be clinically relevant for some tumor subtypes (i.e., lung cancer and papillomaviruses), there is an urgent need for further investigation on this topic. Using innovative laboratory techniques for viral detection on well-defined tumor types, National and International networks against cancer should encourage and organize concerted research programs on viruses and solid cancer association.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Directorate, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, IRCCS, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Franco Gallini 2, Aviano, Italy. dirscienti@cro.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Paoli
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000821:virology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse; D051379:Mice; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Epstein Barr virus; JC virus; Merkel Cell virus; Mouse Mammary Tumor virus; human papillomaviruses; solid cancers