title: The oncomodulatory role of human cytomegalovirus in colorectal cancer: implications for clinical trials.
abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a beta-herpes virus that chronically infects human beings, is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). The viral nucleic acids specifically localized to the neoplastic mucosal epithelium of CRC, while tumoral presence of HCMV independently predicted a poor outcome in elderly patients. In the past decade, the concept of "oncomodulation" of HCMV in human cancers has been formulated. In CRC, changes in the tumor microenvironment are closely related to cancer behavior and prognosis, while the underlying mechanism driving these changes remains unclear. As HCMV affects multiple cellular functions, including signal pathways that regulate angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell invasiveness, and anti-cancer immunity, the virus potentially exerts oncomodulatory effects in the tumor microenvironment of CRC. Here, we summarize the current knowledge about the association between HCMV and CRC and suggest future perspectives on both research and anti-cancer therapy of CRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital , Yilan , Taiwan ; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University , Taipei , Taiwan ; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital , Taipei , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Pai
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital , Taipei , Taiwan ; Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University , Taipei , Taiwan ; Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital , Taipei , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Jiun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chan
keywords: anti-cancer immunity; anti-cancer therapy; colorectal cancer; human cytomegalovirus; oncomodulation