June 16, 2017
Bulletin interne de l'Institut Pasteur
Infection-related cancer: new feature in the Research Journal
More than one in six cases of cancer worldwide are caused by infection. In total, some 2.2 million new cancer cases every year are believed to be the result of infection by a pathogenic agent. Eight viruses, one bacterium and three parasites have been classified as group 1 carcinogens (known to be carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organization.
These include the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses, which can lead to chronic infections and liver cancer and claim more than a million lives each year. The Helicobacter pylori bacterium is responsible for the majority of cases of stomach cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Infection by some forms of papillomavirus is associated with cervical cancer, the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women. HIV is also classified as a carcinogen, since the immunodeficiency it induces increases the risk of cancer.