Virus can cause cancer by driving excessive cellular proleration, as seen with HPV and cervical cancer. A new highlights another strategy: viruses manipulate the human immune system to ensure their survival, which also promotes cancer. This insight could enhance the effectiveness of immune-based cancer therapies.

Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer and a subset of head and neck cancers worldwide. A University of Colorado Cancer Center paper describes a fascinating mechanism that links these two conditions -- viral infection and cancer.