Viral etiology of colorectal cancer

Abstract

Nowadays, colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks 3rd in prevalence among men with oncological diseases and 2nd in women. Adding that, there is a tendency to increase the incidence of CRC among young patients. The most important factor in the CRC prevention is screening, the clinical value of which is reflected in the ability to prevent cancer morbidity and mortality, as well as in reducing treatment costs by detecting precancerous pathologies and early stages of cancer. The review aims at systematizing the study results devoted to the viral etiology of CRC. Up-to-date data on the association of CRC with human papillomavirus, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus is presented. Research data on the role of viruses in the CRC pathogenesis are insufficient and contradictory. The structure of the analyzed studies, the sample size, as well as the methods used to detect viruses, differ markedly. Therefore, they do not allow obtaining reliable results, which dictates the need for further problem study. Understanding the mechanisms by which viruses maintain and stimulate virulence is an important step towards developing treatment tactics in cancer associated with oncoviruses. KEYWORDS: colorectal cancer, human papillomavirus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, colon polyps, adenomatous polyps, adenocarcinoma, oncoviruses. FOR CITATION: Petukhova Yu.Yu., Petukhova A.G., Eliseeva E.V., Apanasevich V.I. Viral etiology of colorectal cancer. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2021;5(8):538–544 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2021-5-8-538-544.