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How Virus Cause Cancer by Medical News
Today Scientists have discovered
how the notorious Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) makes some people vulnerable
to developing cancer. Around 90% of British adults are infected
with EBV - but most come to no harm. However, in a small minority
of cases the virus helps to trigger cancer.
EBV
has been linked to Hodgkin's disease, Burkitt's lymphoma, and
nasopharyngeal cancer, as well as certain rare cancers in immunosupressed
transplant patients. Now scientists from Cancer Research UK's
Paterson Institute have discovered how the virus acts to increase
the risk that cells will divide in the uncontrolled fashion typical
of cancer. They hope the advance could lead to ways of protecting
people from the effects of infection or treating patients with
EBV-related cancers.
The researchers focused on a gene
called p16 which acts as a brake on cell growth and division.
It was already known that EBV was able to inactivate the p16 braking
system - but the way it did this was a mystery.
Sabotaged brakes
In the new study, the researchers
tested the effects of EBV in human cells called fibroblasts. They
found that the key was a molecule produced by the virus, known
as LMP1. This molecule neutralizes the p16 system, either by switching
it off, or sabotaging its effectiveness. This leaves cells free
to divide in an uncontrolled way, raising the risk of cancer.
The researchers believe LMP1 may also have other, as yet undiscovered,
effects that could also contribute to the development of cancer.
Lead researcher Dr Eiji Hara said:
'Epstein-Barr Virus has a number of different cancer-promoting
effects and it's important that we get to the bottom of how it
works, so we may be able to find ways of treating or protecting
people. "We think we've found the virus's central cancer
trigger, but we've still got a way to go in understanding exactly
how the trigger works - it looks as if it may have a few more
tricks up its sleeve."
Professor Robert Souhami, director
of clinical research for Cancer Research UK, said: 'Around 15-20%
of all cancers are caused by viruses, so it's vital that we get
a better handle on the role of viral infection.
"By teasing out the details,
we should eventually put ourselves in a position where we have
improved treatments for viral cancers and perhaps effective methods
of prevention."
The research is published
in the Journal of Cell Biology.
