Examples of Human Cancer Viruses

In addition to chemicals and radiation, a few viruses also can trigger the development of cancer. In cancer viruses, some of the viral genetic information carried in their nucleic acids is inserted into the chromosomes of the infected cell, and can cause the cell to become malignant.

Only a few viruses that infect human cells actually cause cancer. Included in this category are viruses implicated in cervical cancer, liver cancer, and certain lymphomas, leukemias, and sarcomas. These cancers can sometimes be spread from person to person by infectious viruses, although such events account for only a very small fraction of human cancers. For example, the risk of cervical cancer is increased in women with multiple sexual partners and is especially high in women who marry men whose previous wives had this disease. Transmission of human papillomavirus (HPV) during sexual relations appears to be involved.

VIRUSES in this CHART are HOT LINKED, CLICK on the NAME

*Epstein Barr, Human papilloma

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