Report on Carcinogens (RoC) Concept: Selected Viruses. Epstein--Barr Virus, Human ImmunodeficiencynVirus Type 1, Human T--Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1, Kaposi Sarcoma--Associated Herpes Virus, and nMerkel Cell Polyoma Virus.

摘要

The following five viruses will be reviewed for possible listing in the RoC: Epstein?Barr virus (EBV, a herpes virus) and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV), which are DNA viruses; Merkel cell virus (MCV), which is a recently discovered DNA virus (polyoma virus) associated with Merkel cell carcinoma; human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV--1); and humanT--cell lymphotropic virus type--1 (HTLV--1), which are RNA viruses (retroviruses). There is a large database of information on these agents and some authoritative reviews. Significant number of people living in the United States are or have been infected with these viruses and they present an important public health concern for disease mortality and morbidity both in the United States and worldwide. The role of viruses and other infectious agents in the etiology of cancer is an important goal for public health – for vaccine development and for identifying populations at risk. Prevention of infection by these agents would prevent cancers as well as other non?malignant diseases they cause. Providing information in the RoC on these viruses would increase public awareness and improve the public’s understanding of disease prevention. These five viruses will be independently reviewed as candidate substances but are presented in the same concept document, because as similar approach will be used for their evaluations.