Viral role in cervical and liver cancer.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and certain human papillomaviruses (HPV) have been suspected of playing a role in human malignancy. The long latency period (decades) and the fact that only a small proportion of infected individuals subsequently have cancer suggests that these viruses probably contribute in an indirect manner to the development of cancer. Analysis of viral gene function at the molecular level supports this conclusion. More studies are needed to understand the subtle interactions between host cell and viral functions and the genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to malignancy.