Abstract
I then turned to the study of oncogenic DNA viruses, mainly the hepatitis B virus and the Papilloma and Herpes families. These three viruses play a considerable role in human cancers. The mechanisms involved in transformation, in particular interaction with cellular proteins involved in proliferation control (p53, Rb), were outlined. The genetic complexity of some of these viruses, and the existence of multiple mechanisms cooperating for transformation, will probably require a further lecture. Although they appear to be responsible for only 20% of human cancers (mainly in developing countries), virus-induced cancers have been of considerable importance, as they led to the discovery of the first cancer genes. In addition, vaccine strategies against certain viruses have led to spectacular reductions in the incidence of certain cancers, such as hepatocarcinomas linked to hepatitis B virus infection in Taiwan.
