How can a virus bring about carcinogenesis?

Question

How can a virus bring about carcinogenesis?

Answer 1

Both RNA and DNA viruses can be cancer-inducing. Examples are the Epstein-Barr virus and Hepatitis B. Basically, the viruses interfere with normal regulation of cell division and normal cell responses to growth factors due to viral genome insertion into the host genome. Once cell division regulation is lost, normal cell characteristics such as controlled growth patterns and contact inhibition are lost and cells continue to divide and form random aggregations. These tumors are either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

Answer 2

How Viruses can cause Cancer
A cancer causing virus may pick up an oncogene when it reproduced in a previous host. It may pass this on to its new host. Or if it lacks an oncogene, the virus may introduce a control element that causes the cell to become cancerous. These control elements are called enhancers and a cell can turn cancerous if a normally inactive gene is transcribed or when a gene becomes overactive.
To understand what a octagene is read below:

Proto-oncogenes and Oncogenes
proto-oncogene is an oncogene in its non-cancerous state, it is a normal gene. An Oncogene is a cancer causing gene. Proto-oncogenes can be transformed into oncogenes by initiators (mutagens)
To understand what initiator read below
Initiators and Promoters
Genetic inheritance may predispose some people to cancer, but there must be initiation and promotion.

An initiator is a substance that causes a mutation. (It is a mutagen that causes a mutation in the DNA. Some mutagens are xrays, ultraviolet rays etc)

A promoter speeds up the expression of the effects of the mutation.

The DNA-damaged cell has to multiply, become a tumor, and then become stimulated by the promotor. Asbestos from brake linings is the initator (mutagen), and people who smoke cigarettes (the smoke is the promoter) are more likely to get cancer

I hope the position is clear and would help you do that pending homework.

Answer 3

I know that HPV can cause Cervical cancer. A virus actually spreads by weaving itself into healthy DNA. I would imagine this process can turn a cell cancerous.