PQ - 12 Given the recent discovery of the link between a polyomavirus and Merkel cell cancer, what other cancers are caused by novel infectious agents and what are the mechanisms of tumor induction? Background: To date, a number of cancer-causing infectious agents have been identified, such as HPV as the causative agent of cervical cancer and H. pylori and its role in gastric cancer. It seems likely that there are other infectious agents not yet identified that influence cancer development. This question calls for the identification of other agents that may contribute to cancer development and for studies to understand the mechanisms of tumor induction. Feasibility: Multiple approaches in various disciplines may be used to support studies for this question. Epidemiological studies may suggest an association of infection and increased risk. Global health studies may provide locales where more poorly studied cancers might show a causal link to infections. High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics have made it possible to identify viral mRNA in tumor tissues, and similar strategies may prove useful here. Given the success of this research area in the past, it seems likely that many inventive and useful approaches will be available to successful applicants. Implications of success: Identifying new infectious agents that cause cancer and understanding how they influence cancer development have been powerful avenues of research in the past. There is every reason to believe that continued discovery of new cancer-causing infectious agents will continue to result in similar rewards. If they cause a common cancer, developing successful strategies to modulate or prevent their cancer-causing effects can have a tremendous impact on cancer mortality. |
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