Frontiers in Oncology (May 2018)

Epstein–Barr Virus and Human Papillomaviruses Interactions and Their Roles in the Initiation of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Progression

  • Farhan S. Cyprian,
  • Halema F. Al-Farsi,
  • Semir Vranic,
  • Saghir Akhtar,
  • Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa,
  • Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa,
  • Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2018.00111
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Oncoviruses are implicated in around 20% of all human cancers including both solid and non-solid malignancies. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the most common oncoviruses worldwide. Currently, it is well established that onco-proteins of EBV (LMP1, LMP2A, and EBNA1) and high-risk HPVs (E5 and E6/E7) play an important role in the initiation and/or progression of several human carcinomas, including cervical, oral, and breast. More significantly, it has been recently pointed out that viral onco-proteins of EBV and high-risk HPVs can be co-present and consequently cooperate to initiate and/or amplify epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is the hallmark of cancer progression and metastasis. This could occur by β-catenin, JAK/STAT/SRC, PI3k/Akt/mTOR, and/or RAS/MEK/ERK signaling pathways, which onco-proteins of EBV and HPVs share. This review presents the most recent advances related to EBV and high-risk HPVs onco-proteins interactions and their roles in the progression of human carcinomas especially oral and breast via the initiation of EMT.

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