The Landscape of Virus-Associated Cancers in Africa

Viruses are associated with 15-20% of cancers in humans. Viruses that are classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) include human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV / HHV-8), Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). These human tumor viruses belong to different viral families and have various mechanisms of oncogenesis. While viral infection is a requisite, it is not absolute, as there are complex host and viral factors leading to the development of cancer in a proportion of infected individuals. There are effective prophylactic vaccines for some of these cancer-causing viruses such as HBV and HPV and there is curative antiviral therapy for HCV. Despite major advances in research and development of preventive strategies, there is a crucial need for scale-up of effective vaccination, screening, and treatment.Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest burdens of infection-attributed cancers. The syndemics of HIV, HPV and other viral infections coupled with socioeconomic factors provide a melting pot for the development of various virus-associated cancers. Health equity challenges with access to screening, vaccination, care, and management of cancers are a major barrier for cancer control and prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. Most cancer research originates from the global North and there is a need for more research and capacity building in the global South, to assess host and viral factors in this setting, and promote effective prevention and management of virus-associated cancers in Africa.This Research Topic aims to address critical gaps in the research of virus-associated cancers in Africa. Submissions are encouraged that will explore the landscape of virus-associated cancers in Africa, with an emphasis on clinical relevance, translational research, and impact. Authors from countries in Africa are encouraged to address, but are not limited to, the following themes:• Host and/or viral factors contributing to the pathogenesis of virus-associated cancers in Africa• Epidemiology of virus-associated cancers in Africa• Clinical case reports or case series of virus-associated cancers in Africa• Screening approaches of virus-associated cancers in Africa• Management of virus-associated cancers in Africa• Prevention strategies of virus-associated cancers in Africa Topic editors: Diana Hardie, Catherine Wendy Spearman, Stephanie Juané Kennedy Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84048/the-landscape-of-virus-associated-cancers-in-africa