Infectious Agents and Cancer最新文献

{"title":"The prognosis characteristics of HIV/HBV co-infection after antiviral therapy: a comprehensive review.","authors":"Ai Peng, Li Wang, Khalid Waleed, Liping Qiu, Xiaoqin Tong, Zhibin Tu, ShuYang, Yiting Cui, Fei Hu, Liang Lu, Peng Huang","doi":"10.1186/s13027-025-00724-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13027-025-00724-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Co-infection of HIV and HBV is still a major global public health concern. Co-infected people have a nearly threefold increased risk of end-stage liver disease, with a noticeably faster development to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma than those with HIV mono-infection. Based on the information that is now available, antiretroviral regimens that combine lamivudine or emtricitabine with tenofovir (TDF or TAF) can effectively block both viruses, maintain or even partially reverse liver fibrosis, and improve immunological reconstitution. However, HBsAg decrease indicates that a functional cure is still uncommon. In standardized treatment cohorts, long-term HBsAg clearance rates are approximately 15% for African patients and 8%–12% for Asian populations; these discrepancies are likely caused by variations in host immunological profiles and the distribution of HBV genotypes. The severity of baseline liver fibrosis, HBV DNA levels, HBsAg titers, CD4⁺ count, medication adherence, alcohol consumption, and co-infection with HCV or HDV all affect prognosis. There are still significant gaps in our knowledge of the long-term safety of antiviral medications and in the development of cure-oriented approaches. Therefore, to lower liver-related morbidity and increase long-term survival, early diagnosis, timely introduction of ART with HBV-active medicines, and improved adherence support—especially for individuals with severe fibrosis—are crucial.</p>","PeriodicalId":13568,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Agents and Cancer","volume":" ","pages":"15"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12874726/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145948766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacterial contributions to cancer development: mechanisms, dysbiosis, and cross-cancer associations.","authors":"Yasmin N Ramadan, Marah N Alatawi, Abdullah S Albalawi, Helal F Hetta","doi":"10.1186/s13027-025-00722-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13027-025-00722-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer is a multifactorial disease influenced by complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and microbial factors. Growing evidence demonstrates that several bacterial species contribute to carcinogenesis through chronic inflammation, production of genotoxic metabolites, disruption of cell-cycle regulation, and modulation of host immune responses. Helicobacter pylori–induced gastric adenocarcinoma remains the most well-established example of bacteria-driven oncogenesis; however, accumulating studies indicate that additional virulence mechanisms and bacteria-dependent pathways are also implicated in tumor initiation and progression across multiple organ systems. Given the increasing global burden of cancer and rising concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance, understanding the oncogenic roles of bacteria has become essential for guiding prevention and therapeutic strategies. This review provides a novel and integrated perspective by synthesizing mechanistic, microbiome-driven, and cross-cancer evidence on how bacterial pathogens contribute to oncogenesis, while also highlighting the shared microbial patterns observed in both gastrointestinal and extraintestinal cancers such as breast cancer. In this mini-review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms through which oncogenic bacteria facilitate cancer development, discuss microbiome dysbiosis associated with various malignancies, and examine their roles in gastric, colorectal, esophageal, lung, gallbladder, breast, and cervical cancers. Understanding these interconnected pathways may support future development of microbiome-targeted therapeutic interventions and facilitate early detection strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":13568,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Agents and Cancer","volume":" ","pages":"11"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12849305/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145933018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus types among women aged 30-49 years in the Chuy region, Kyrgyzstan.","authors":"Turatbek Kozukeev, Olga Em, Iza Ciglenecki, Evelyne Wachira, Asel Tenizbaeva, Adrian Guadarrama, Masha Pastrana, Manuel Albela, Jean Kalibushi","doi":"10.1186/s13027-025-00727-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13027-025-00727-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>INTRODUCTION: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cervical cancer globally. High-risk (HR) HPV types HPV16 and 18 are responsible for 70% of cases. However, limited data exist for Kyrgyzstan, where cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. This study aimed to establish a baseline HR-HPV prevalence, genotype distribution as well as risk factors for HR-HPV persistence among women aged 30–49 in the Chuy region, before the national HPV vaccination program was fully implemented. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and May 2024 in two facilities in rural Sokuluk District and one in Bishkek City. Cervical specimens from 1213 women were tested using the Xpert HPV assay, which detects oncogenic HPV types 16, 18/45 and other combined types (31, 33, 35, 52 and 58 are combined as P3, 51 and 59 as P4 and 39, 56, 66 and 68 as P5). Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) was performed, and demographic, social, and behavioral data were collected through structured questionnaires. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore HPV prevalence and associated risk factors. RESULTS: The overall HR-HPV prevalence was 9.0% (109/1213, 95% CI 7.5–10.7%). HR-HPV prevalence was higher in Sokuluk (56/570, 9.8%) compared to Bishkek (33/424, 7.8%). HPV16 was the most prevalent genotype (2.5%), followed by pooled types P3 (2.3%) and P5 (2.1%). Among women with detected HPV, 13.6% had a positive VIA result. Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with HR-HPV detection (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.81, 1.14–2.82, p = 0.010), while previous cervical pathology was protective factor (aOR 0.63, 0.41–0.95, p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first comprehensive data on the prevalence and distribution of HR-HPV in Kyrgyzstan. The findings emphasize the importance of tailored public health interventions, including expanded HPV vaccination, and scaling-up HPV-testing based cervical cancer screening programs. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of these interventions on reducing the burden of HPV-associated cervical cancer in Kyrgyzstan. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable. </p>","PeriodicalId":13568,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Agents and Cancer","volume":" ","pages":"13"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12865973/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145896393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular, immunological and oncogenic mechanisms of cervical cancer mediated by HPV/HIV co-infection, clinical implication and management.","authors":"Swase Dominic Terkimbi, Ugwu Okechukwu Paul-Chima, Regan Mujinya, Chebet Joan, Philippe E P Mounmbegna, Michael Ben Okon, Anyanwu Godson Emeka, Solomon Adomi Mbina, Anyanwu Chinyere Nkemjika, Patrick Maduabuchi Aja","doi":"10.1186/s13027-025-00729-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13027-025-00729-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human papillomavirus (HPV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection pose a major public health challenge, especially in regions with high HIV prevalence. HIV-induced immunosuppression increased the persistence of high-risk HPV infection to cervical cancer. HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins inhibit p53 and pRB, the major tumor suppressor proteins. HIV proteins Tat and Nef promote oncogenic processes and immune depletion. This leads to persistent inflammation and immunological exhaustion, which accelerate cervical cancer development in HIV/HPV co-infection. The clinical implication is significant, with higher risks of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer, highlighting the significance of integrated care. To reduce the burden of cervical cancer in HIVpositive women, integrated strategies are needed, including regular screening per WHO guidelines, expanded vaccination, improved access to treatment (surgery, chemoradiation, and emerging immunotherapies), and contextspecific research into therapeutic vaccines and biomarkers. Future research should focus on integrating cervical cancer screening and HPV testing into HIV care. While incorporating AI-assisted triage tools into routine cervical screening programs to enhance early detection, optimize resource utilization, and improve patient outcomes in high-risk populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":13568,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Agents and Cancer","volume":" ","pages":"12"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12857027/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145863117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematic review and meta-analysis of chemotherapy-induced adverse drug reactions among children with cancer in Africa.","authors":"Birbirsa Sefera Senbeta, Tesfaye Negesa Liche, Gemechu Gelana Ararame, Lemi Ushu Sime, Alemayehu Abebe Guji","doi":"10.1186/s13027-025-00723-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13027-025-00723-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>INTRODUCTION: Several systematic reviews have looked at chemotherapy-related toxicities in children with cancer worldwide. In African settings, the rates of ADRs may differ. There is no robust, quantitative estimate of the overall pooled prevalence of chemotherapy-related ADRs among African pediatric oncology patients. Both hematologic and solid tumor patients were included in the analysis. Hence, this study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of chemotherapy-related adverse drug events among children with all cancer types in Africa. METHODS: We used a comprehensive search of articles using different databases (7 databases) such as Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Web of Sciences, Scopus, EMBASE, and PubMed to explore relevant studies. Studies published until November 16, 2025 included in the study. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle– Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Data was extracted with Microsoft Excel and analyzed using STATA version 17 software. Random effect meta-regression analysis at 95% CI was used to assess the pooled prevalence of chemotherapy-related adverse drug events among children with cancer in Africa. Heterogeneity was determined using the I2 statistic, and publication bias was evaluated with a funnel plot and Egger test. RESULT: The pooled prevalence of chemotherapy-induced adverse drug events among pediatric cancer patients in Africa from 9 studies revealed that 62.03% (95%CI: 36.93–87.13) and with (I2 = 99.4, P = 0.000). A Subgroup meta-analysis showed comparatively less heterogeneity in other African countries (I2 = 88.2%, p = 0.000) as compared to studies conducted in Ethiopia (I2 = 99%, P-value = 0.000). Moreover, subgroup meta-analysis showed that there was a difference in the strength of heterogeneity between articles published before 2020(I2 = 99.8%, P-value = 0.000) and after 2020 (I2 = 97.4%, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The burden of chemotherapy-related adverse drug reactions was found to be high. Health care professionals involved in cancer treatment should be prepared to deal with chemotherapy-related adverse drug reactions. Routine ADR surveillance should be integrated into pediatric oncology wards in Africa. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable. </p>","PeriodicalId":13568,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Agents and Cancer","volume":" ","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12836989/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145827607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human papillomavirus type 16 and 18 in urothelial bladder neoplasms: detection, quantification, and comparison with non-neoplastic samples.","authors":"Arshia Yazdani, Ghodsieh Kamrani, Arefeh Ebrahimian Shiadeh, Emadoddin Moudi, Zeinab Vosough, Hoda Shirafkan, Farzin Sadeghi, Akramossadat Hosseini","doi":"10.1186/s13027-025-00725-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13027-025-00725-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer is a prevalent urothelial cancer, and recent studies have focused on the potential role of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in its development. This study investigates the prevalence and viral load of HPV types 16 and 18 in bladder urothelial neoplasms and compares these findings with non-neoplastic samples. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using tissue samples from patients with urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC) and a non-neoplastic control group. DNA was extracted and analyzed using real-time PCR to detect and quantify HPV types 16 and 18. RESULTS: Although the prevalence of high-risk HPV types (16 and 18) was higher in bladder cancer patients compared to controls, the difference was not statistically significant. However, HPV-16 viral load was significantly higher in patients (P < 0.001), and HPV-18 viral load was also significantly elevated (P = 0.004). Both HPV-16 and HPV-18 viral loads were generally higher in bladder cancer patients compared to healthy individuals. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated an increased prevalence of high-risk HPV types in bladder urothelial neoplasms, with elevated viral loads for HPV-16 and HPV-18 in the cancer group. While these differences were not statistically significant, the increased viral load suggests that HPV may play a role in bladder cancer progression, particularly in cases of persistent infection. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening HPV vaccination programs and further investigation into the long-term effects of HPV on bladder cancer. </p>","PeriodicalId":13568,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Agents and Cancer","volume":" ","pages":"9"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12836773/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145819283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Host immunogenetics and EBV detection in cancer: the CTLA-4 rs231775 signal in a multi-cancer case-control cohort.","authors":"Noor Kadhim Abed, Abolfazl Bayrami, Saber Zahri","doi":"10.1186/s13027-025-00726-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13027-025-00726-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Persistent oncogenic viruses are common in cancer and may be modulated by host immunogenetics. We evaluated whether CTLA-4 and IL-4 variants are associated with qualitative viral DNA detection, focusing on EBV, in a multi-cancer case–control cohort. METHODS: 90 cancer patients and 90 age-/sex-matched controls were enrolled from Southern Iraq. Peripheral blood (and tumor DNA when available) was assayed by qualitative EBNA-1 PCR for EBV, and by PCR for HPV and HBV. CTLA-4 (rs231775, rs5742909) and IL-4 (rs2243250) were genotyped. The associations were tested by χ² and multivariable logistic regression, including adjustment for cancer type, and discrimination was assessed by ROC AUC. RESULTS: Among 180 participants, viral DNA was detected in 59 of 90 cancer patients (65.6%) and in none of the 90 controls (χ²[1, n = 180] = 84.82; p < 0.001). Among cases, positivity rates were 26.8% for HBV, 21.4% for EBV, and 17.9% for HPV. Genotype–phenotype analyses showed enrichment of the CTLA-4 rs231775 GA genotype among EBV-positive cases (χ² p = 0.0105). In multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, cancer type, and routine hematology, rs231775-GA remained independently associated with EBV positivity (p = 0.030), and the model yielded an AUC of 0.75. No EBV associations were observed for rs5742909 or IL-4 rs2243250. Hematological indices were within reference ranges and did not differ by EBV status, and the rs231775 finding was independent of these measures. Because EBV DNA was undetectable in all controls, the association reflects within-case differences (EBV+ vs. EBV–), and results should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating. CONCLUSIONS: In this multi-cancer cohort, CTLA-4 rs231775 (GA) is associated with detectable EBV DNA by qualitative PCR, independent of age, sex, cancer type, and routine hematology, highlighting an immune-checkpoint genetic pathway that may facilitate EBV persistence. Findings for rs5742909 and IL-4 rs2243250 were null for EBV. These data support exploratory, targeted studies to validate CTLA-4–mediated susceptibility to EBV in cancer using quantitative assays and larger, multi-center designs. </p>","PeriodicalId":13568,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Agents and Cancer","volume":" ","pages":"8"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12836939/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145810047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serum level of soluble Interleukin-2 receptor among human papilloma virus infected female patients.","authors":"Marwa M Yasin, Rania A Hassan, Abeer A El Sayed, Sahar S Ezzelarab, Mustafa M Helal, Amira S Abdelhady","doi":"10.1186/s13027-025-00721-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13027-025-00721-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Progression from infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) to cervical cancer in some women is thought to involve a permissive host environment, one in which immune response is mobilized in an inappropriate manner. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is one of the most studied cytokines driving T-cell proliferation and survival. Soluble Interleukin-2 receptor (sIL2R) was found to play an immunoregulatory role and is detected in the serum of healthy individuals but increases in association with certain types of neoplasms. The aim of the current study was to assess the serum level of sIL2R in HPV infected female patients with genital warts compared to healthy control women and to correlate the results with cervical cytology (pap smear) results to determine the utility of measuring the serum sIL2R levels in screening of precancerous changes in cervix. The study was conducted on 90 Egyptian female patients with genital warts and 90 apparently healthy controls. Cervical brush samples were taken for both conventional Pap cytology and detection of HPV-DNA. Serum levels of sIL2R were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Patients were divided into two groups according to the result of Pap smear: group 1 with Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) having flat condyloma on cervix and group 2 with normal pap smear having condyloma accuminata lesions. Serum sIL2R levels of HPV infected patients showed a statistically significant higher median when compared to controls (p value < 0.0001). Also, group 1 showed a statistically significant higher median compared to group 2 regarding sIL2R levels (p value < 0.0001). sIL2R was found to be perfect and reliable in differentiation between group 1 and group 2. Also, it may be useful to use serum sIL2R level for screening of HPV infections and cervical cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":13568,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Agents and Cancer","volume":" ","pages":"7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12821268/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145774611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parasites' immunomodulators: a breakthrough in immunotherapeutics displaying antineoplastic activity against human colorectal and hepatocellular carcinoma cells.","authors":"Nahla El Skhawy, Ahmed Shehata, Maha M Eissa","doi":"10.1186/s13027-025-00715-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13027-025-00715-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The complex interplay between parasites and cancer is yielding promising advances in the field of cancer therapeutics. This study explored the in vitro anti-cancer potential of parasite immunomodulators (antigens and antibodies) of Schistosoma mansoni, Trichinella spiralis, and Toxoplasma gondii on human HT-29 colorectal and HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells using the MTT assay. Results revealed that those parasites' immunomodulators exhibited antineoplastic activity and demonstrated a statistically significant inhibition of both cancer cell lines' proliferation (P ˂0.05). Notably, Trichinella spiralis antigens and antibodies and anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies demonstrated the most statistically significant inhibitory effects on HT-29 colorectal cancer cells (36.65%, 49.9% and 50.43% respectively). For HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, Trichinella spiralis antigens and antibodies, as well as Toxoplasma gondii antigen, displayed the most statistically significant inhibitory effects (38.27%, 48.25% and 34.68% respectively). Interestingly, parasitic antibodies are particularly noteworthy, exhibiting the most significant inhibitory effects on both cancer cell lines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the antineoplastic activity of parasites' antibodies against human colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. These findings could enlighten the path for promising cancer therapeutic candidates. Future research should explore the antineoplastic potential of a broader range of parasites' immunomodulators and identify their mechanisms of action. This could represent a qualitative shift towards the development of innovative cancer therapeutic antibodies and cancer vaccine candidates of parasitic origin for cancer-targeted immunotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":13568,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Agents and Cancer","volume":" ","pages":"5"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12805742/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145742450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epstein-Barr virus infection shapes the genetic, transcriptomic, and immune microenvironment landscape of Burkitt lymphoma.","authors":"Qing Xiao, Yilei Zhang, Zhongyi Chen, Xinrong Liu, Wentao Yu, Tiansheng Wang, Ling Chu","doi":"10.1186/s13027-025-00720-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13027-025-00720-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive B-cell lymphoma with its occurrence and progression closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status. However, the molecular differences between EBV-positive and EBV-negative BL have not been comprehensively evaluated. Through targeted sequencing of a 475-gene panel in 27 BL cases, and RNA-seq and LncRNA-seq analyses of 25 cases, we found that EBV-negative tumors displayed a higher frequency of chromosomal amplifications, particularly at 7p12.2, 6q25.3 and 7q22.1. Two novel variants of KMT2D were identified in adult patients in the EBV-negative group. Furthermore, EBV-positive BL exhibited enriched FOXO1 mutations, in contrast to CCND3 hotspot variants in EBV-negative cases. Transcriptome profiling revealed 1,612 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), predominantly involved in the PI3K-AKT, Hippo, WNT, and mTOR pathways. LncRNA profiling identified three EBV-associated lncRNAs ((MSTRG.103766.1, MSTRG.33752.11, ENSTO0000400385.2) with potential prognostic relevance in BL. Immune deconvolution (CIBERSORT/xCELL) demonstrated elevated M1 macrophages infiltration in EBV-positive BL, which correlated with improved 24-month overall survival (68% vs. 41%, p = 0.02). SULT1C2P1 and KCNK5 emerged as M1-associated prognostic biomarkers. Our findings establish EBV as a key modulator of BL genomic instability and immune remodeling, leading us to hypothesize that EBV status defines distinct BL subtypes with unique therapeutic vulnerabilities, thereby enabling the future development of EBV-stratified precision therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":13568,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Agents and Cancer","volume":" ","pages":"4"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12784524/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145722550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}