Research

Several viruses can directly or indirectly promote cancer. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with almost all cases of cervical cancer, as well as anogenital cancers and a growing number of head and neck cancers. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare but aggressive skin cancer, is often caused by infection with Merkel cell polyomavirus. A type of herpesvirus promotes Kaposi sarcoma and the Epstein-Barr virus can cause lymphoma. Additionally, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses are linked to liver cancer. HIV infection increases the risk of many cancers.

Work by Hutch scientists involved with the PAM IRC have made lifesaving strides against virally associated cancers. Our director, Dr. Denise Galloway, helped establish the link between HPV and cervical cancer, made fundamental discoveries that helped pave the way for the cancer-preventive HPV vaccine, and led the award-winning team that performed the proof-of-principal clinical trial showing that the HPV vaccine protected against HPV infection.

Dr. Galloway also collaborated with Dr. Paul Nghiem to develop a test to detect MCC recurrence. Dr. Nghiem transformed MCC therapy by introducing checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy, to treat the disease.

PAM IRC scientists are working to extend these successes to other cancers caused by viruses. We are working to better understand how different viruses cause cancer or raise cancer risk. We are striving to create better treatments for these cancers, including developing new vaccines and immunotherapies to tackle virus-caused tumors.