Oncomodulation by human cytomegalovirus: evidence becomes stronger

M Michaelis, HW Doerr, J Cinatl - Medical microbiology and immunology, 2009 - Springer
M Michaelis, HW Doerr, J Cinatl
Medical microbiology and immunology, 2009Springer
The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a ubiquitous herpes virus, establishes after (in healthy
individuals typically subclinical) primary infection a lifelong persistence characterised by
more or less frequent subclinical reactivations. It is an important pathogen in
immunocompromised individuals and currently investigated for a plethora of different
questions and aspects [1–25]. The (possible) relationship between HCMV and cancer has
been discussed for decades [1]. Detection of viral DNA, mRNA and/or antigens in tumour …
The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a ubiquitous herpes virus, establishes after (in healthy individuals typically subclinical) primary infection a lifelong persistence characterised by more or less frequent subclinical reactivations. It is an important pathogen in immunocompromised individuals and currently investigated for a plethora of different questions and aspects [1–25]. The (possible) relationship between HCMV and cancer has been discussed for decades [1]. Detection of viral DNA, mRNA and/or antigens in tumour tissues as well as seroepidemiologic evidence suggested a role of HCMV infection in several human malignancies. However, controversial clinical results from different groups had raised skepticism about a role of HCMV in cancer [1].
A major point of concern is that HCMV is not considered to be a tumour virus due to a lack of proven transformation potential in human cells. To explain the frequent presence of HCMV in tumour tissues, we proposed the concept of oncomodulation [26]. Oncomodulation means that HCMV may infect tumour cells and increase their malignancy. We postulated that tumour cells provide a genetic environment, characterised by disturbances in intracellular signalling pathways, transcription factors, and tumour suppressor proteins, that enables HCMV to exert its oncomodulatory potential while it cannot be manifested in normal cells (Fig. 1)[1].
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