The answer to the question “is cancer a virus or not” is both yes and no. Cancer is a condition in which cells grow uncontrollably and ignore signals to die or stop dividing. The cells then invade neighboring tissue and spread to distant areas. By contrast, normal cells stop growing when they encounter other cells and do not spread throughout the body. Cancer cells, on the other hand, use their own power to trick the immune system into helping them grow and spread. Some cancer cells even trick the immune system into protecting the tumor from being destroyed.
While cancer is not contagious, some kinds of viruses have been linked to it. The Epstein-Barr virus triggers lymphomas and causes mononucleosis. Other viruses cause cancer such as the Hepatitis B and C virus. The human papillomavirus causes cancer in the cervical region, and researchers have been able to identify these viruses in blood and tumors.
Several studies support the theory that cancer is a virus. For example, the Epstein-Barr virus is widespread. It is the primary agent of infectious mononucleosis and infects up to 95 percent of adults. Although most infections are subclinical, EBV has been linked to a variety of malignancies, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, B-cell lymphomas, and Hodgkin’s disease.
Although no one knows which cause cancer, scientists agree that HPV causes a large number of cervical cancers. This virus has undergone significant research in the past four decades, and scientists were able to develop a cervical cancer vaccine. Fortunately, cervical cancer is highly curable thanks to the HPV vaccine. Although this is still a controversial topic, it is one that has made researchers happy. And the research on cervical cancer has made it a viable option for women who are at risk.
Researchers are also studying the use of viruses to treat cancer. In this research, weakened viruses are being used to attack tumor cells. One example is the use of attenuated polio virus for treating glioblastoma, a devastating type of brain cancer. A viral oncolytic virus is injected into tumors, and its results were promising. It was so promising that the FDA awarded this research breakthrough status.
Humans are infected with a large number of viruses, including the HPV that causes cervical cancer. Because of the growing understanding of the role of viruses in the development of cancer, vaccines have been developed to prevent infection. However, it is important to understand that these vaccines only protect against the virus if given before exposure to the cancer-causing organism. They also work well in cases of cervical cancer caused by HPV.
Some research suggests that cancer is caused by changes in DNA, most often in the genes of the body. When this happens, these genes become oncogenes, which cannot be turned off. The uncontrolled cell growth in these cases occurs due to the overproduction of these genes. The tumor suppressor gene, which normally slows cell growth, is inactivated by DNA changes. As a result, the cancerous cells become uncontrollable.
