Viral-induced human carcinogenesis: an oxidative stress perspective.

Oncogenic transformation occurs via many different mechanisms. Alterations in the expression of certain key genes (oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes) contribute to the development of the tumorigenic state of uncontrolled cell proliferation. Tumor viruses' studies have contributed over the last 2 decades significantly in cancer etiology, first by providing valuable information on the mechanisms and dissection of cell signaling and growth control pathways and second by being causative agents of human neoplasia.