Pathogenesis of virus-associated human cancers: Epstein-Barr virus and hepatitis B virus as two examples

Kung Chao Chang, Yao Chang, Lily Hui Ching Wang, Hung Wen Tsai, Wenya Huang, Ih Jen Su

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Virus-associated human cancers may exhibit two characteristic histopathologic features: (1) the inflammation-rich background as observed in Epstein-Barr virus-associated Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); and (2) the characteristic nuclear morphology such as the Reed-Sternberg cells in HL. Besides, the hepatocytes of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection frequently exhibit characteristic ground glass hepatocytes, a phenomenon associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress response induced by the overloaded or malfolded HBV surface antigens. In this review, we explore specifically the pathogenesis of Epstein-Barr virus-associated HL and NPC, and HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma based on the observed histopathologic features. We propose that the retention of viral proteins induces inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and genomic instability in HL, NPC, and hepatocellular carcinoma, whereby the viral oncoproteins may play additional transactivational roles to induce host genes for transformation, invasion, and metastasis. Therapeutic implications based on the pathogenesis of virus-associated cancers are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)581-590
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume113
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014 Sept

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Medicine

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