Host- Pathogen Interactions Molecular Links To Tumorgenesis And Cancer Progression

Abstract

Infectious agents as the causes of cancer, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, contribute to about 8-17% of all cancer cases in the world, which means that almost one out of every five cancer is associated with a pathogen infection. Eleven (Group I human carcinogens) are known to have an oncogenic potential. It is important to identify these pathogens, their ways of transmission and the molecular pathways these pathogens modify in order to establish prevention and treatment measures. The most notable onco-pathogens and their related cancers identified in this review are the hepatitis B and C viruses and hepatocellular carcinoma, the human papillomaviruses and the cervical cancer and Schistosoma haematobium and the bladder carcinoma. Furthermore, much attention is paid to the fact that these infections trigger the main oncogenic signaling pathways MAPK, NF-kB, Wnt/b-catenin, PI3K-AKT-mTOR—that facilitate tumor formation and progression through inflammation, DNA damage, and immune evasion. Additionally, knowledge of these host-pathogen interactions will help gain insight into the molecular basis of the cancers caused by infection and expose possible therapeutic targets. Such information can be used to aid the prevention of cancer, detect and treat it earlier, and adopt more effective ways to fight cancer, ultimately contributing to the decrease in the burden of pathogen-related malignancies in the world.