Human papillomavirus (HPV) is very common in males and ternales. Although most infections are cleared within a few weeks, there are to HPV types than have severe long term effects and are responsible for 70% ?of all cervical cancers. How can some viruses be related to cancer?O The virus forces the cells to produce more viruses and this always results in cancer The virus lyses the cell as it exists the cells and this makes the cell become cancerous
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Correct Answer:
Some viruses, including certain types of HPV, can lead to cancer by altering the DNA of host cells and disrupting normal cell cycle regulation.
Explanation:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that infects epithelial cells. While many HPV infections clear on their own, certain high-risk types, such as HPV-16 and HPV-18, can integrate their genetic material into the DNA of host cells. This integration can lead to long-term cellular changes that increase the risk of cancer, particularly cervical cancer, as well as other types such as anal, penile, throat, and vulvar cancers.
Viruses can contribute to cancer development through several mechanisms:
- Disrupting Tumor Suppressor Genes
- HPV produces two key viral proteins: E6 and E7.
- E6 binds to and degrades p53, a crucial tumor suppressor protein responsible for detecting and repairing damaged DNA.
- E7 inactivates Rb (retinoblastoma protein), another tumor suppressor that controls cell cycle progression.
- Without these protective mechanisms, infected cells can continue dividing uncontrollably, leading to mutations and cancer.
- Promoting Uncontrolled Cell Growth
- The viral proteins force cells to keep dividing even when they should undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death).
- This uncontrolled growth increases the likelihood of further genetic mutations, leading to cancerous transformations.
- Chronic Inflammation and Immune Evasion
- Long-term HPV infection causes chronic inflammation, which can contribute to DNA damage.
- The virus also has mechanisms to evade immune detection, allowing infected cells to persist and accumulate mutations over time.
Conclusion:
Not all viruses cause cancer, but those that can integrate into the host genome and disrupt tumor suppressor genes significantly increase the risk. This is why HPV vaccination is crucial in preventing HPV-related cancers.