Cancer Virology

Tumor virology is represented by Drs. Paul Ahlquist, Eric Johannsen, Robert Kalejta, Shannon Kenney, Paul Lambert, Dan Loeb, Janet Mertz, Nate Sherer, and Bill Sugden. The strong motivation for this program is that viruses are now known to cause at least 15%-20% of human tumors, and are widely suspected in additional cancers. In many or most of these cases, viral gene functions not only contribute to tumor development, but also are required for continuing survival of the final malignant tumor. Thus, interfering with virus infection or viral functions could prevent or cure many cancers. Current areas of research include:

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
  • Studies on the replication and partitioning of EBV DNAs between dividing cells, EBV control of cell proliferation, and the interaction of EBV viral and cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) with infection and oncogenesis.
  • Studies on EBV latent infection and lytic reactivation, including the roles of viral DNA methylation and host proteins in these processes. Recent work showed that cellular Hsp90 is required for normal expression of EBNA2, an important EBV-transforming protein.
  • Developing treatments for EBV-associated tumors based on reactivation of lytic EBV replication and/or inhibiting EBV functions required for viral maintenance, cell survival and proliferation
Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated Herpes Virus (KSHV)
  • Studies on viral DNA partitioning required to maintain the latent infections associated with tumorigenicity.
Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV)
  • Studies on latent and lytic herpesvirus replication. Recent work has shown that HCMV modulates cellular Rb function in part through a viral kinase that acts as a hyperactive ortholog of cellular cyclin-dependent kinases.
Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs)
  • Studies on the pathways and mechanisms of HPV infection, maintenance, and oncogenesis.
  • Specific roles of viral oncogenes, cell genes and hormones in HPV-associated oncogenesis in different tissues. Recent studies show that p53 loss synergizes with estrogen and papillomaviral oncogenes to induce cervical and breast cancers.
  • Fundamental differences in cell cycle deregulation in human papillomavirus-positive and -negative head/neck and cervical cancers.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
  • Studies on the molecular processes by which the virus maintains its genome and chronic infections that lead to progressive liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
  • Studies on the molecular processes by which the virus maintains its genome and chronic infections that lead to progressive liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma.