Five DNA viruses are known to cause cancers in humans. These are human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, Epstein-Barr virus, Kaposi sarcoma herpes virus and Merkel cell polyomavirus. It is estimated that, together, these are responsible for well over a million new cases of cancer worldwide annually. Also of interest is adenovirus: although it does not cause cancer in humans, it produces malignant tumours in experimental animals. This makes it a very powerful tool to study the mechanisms of viral oncogenesis. In recent years great strides have been made in our understanding of the molecular biology of these DNA viruses, and the virus-host interactions that drive carcinogenicity. These new data are essential first steps in the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
In this timely book, expert authors review the most important current research in this rapidly growing field. Topics covered range from an overview of the contribution of DNA tumour viruses to the cancer burden worldwide, and the molecular pathogenesis of virus driven cancers to vaccine development.
This volume will serve as a valuable reference source for everyone working in the field, both experts and students, in academia, government, and biotechnology companies. It is also a must-read for anyone with an interest in viral tumourigenesis and an important acquisition for all microbiology libraries.