Retinoblastoma Protein Is Required for Epstein-Barr Virus Replication in Differentiated Epithelia

Modulation of Epstein-Barr-Virus (EBV)-Associated Cancers by Co-Infections

The oncogenic and persistent Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is carried by more than 95% of the human adult population. While asymptomatic in most of these, EBV can cause a wide variety of malignancies of lymphoid or epithelial cell origin. Some of these are also associated with co-infections that either increase EBV-induced tumorigenesis or weaken its immune control. The respective pathogens include Kaposi-sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), Plasmodium falciparum and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this review, I will discuss the respective tumor entities and possible mechanisms by which co-infections increase the EBV-associated cancer burden. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms could allow us to identify crucial features of EBV-associated malignancies and defects in their immune control. These could then be explored to develop therapies against the respective cancers by targeting EBV and/or the respective co-infections with pathogen-specific therapies or vaccinations.

The pathophysiology of the cell cycle in cancer and treatment strategies using various cell cycle checkpoint inhibitors

The cell cycle is the series of events that occur in a cell leading to its division and duplication. It can be divided into two main stages: interphase and mitosis. Interphase is the longest stage of the cell cycle and can be further divided into three phases: G1, S, and G2. During G1, the cell grows and prepares for DNA synthesis. In the S phase, DNA synthesis occurs, leading to the replication of the genetic material. In G2, the cell continues to grow and prepares for mitosis. After mitosis, the cell enters the final stage of the cell cycle, called cytokinesis, during which the cytoplasm is divided, resulting in two separate daughter cells. The cell cycle then begins again with interphase. Cell cycle dysregulation is a hallmark of cancer, and it can have several consequences that contribute to the development and progression of cancer. Cyclin inhibitors and checkpoint activators have shown promise in the treatment of cancer, particularly in combination with other therapies.