Virus cancer link

The virus cancer link is the idea that some cancers are caused by viruses.

History

The theory that cancer could be caused by a virus began to be developed in 1911 by Peyton Rous. Rouse transmitted soild tumors of chickens by transplanting tissue between them.

By the early 1950s it was known that viruses could remove and incoroprate genes and genetic material in cells. It was suggested that these new genes inserted into cells could make the cell cancerous. Many of these viral oncogenes have been discovered and identified to cause cancer.

Studies since 2000 have found JC virus in malignant colon tumors and suggested that the virus may be linked to colon cancer.

There is also a very strong association between HPV and cervical cancer.

See also

• Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma