Since its discovery, HHV-6 has been studied in the context of lymphoproliferative disorders and various types of cancer. Several obstacles, particularly the ubiquitous nature of the virus, have made it difficult to determine exactly how HHV-6 might, or might not, be involved in tumor development. A review on the topic seeks to explore the strongest associations between HHV-6 and different cancers, as well as the pitfalls and advantages of various methods of viral detection. In addition, the review explores the possible mechanisms that HHV-6A and HHV-6B may employ to trigger oncogenesis or disrupt apoptosis, cellular transformation, invasion, and proliferation pathways.
The authors conclude that further testing for HHV-6 in glial tumors, gastrointestinal cancers, oral cancer, and nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma is warranted.
Find the full, open access review here: Eliassen 2018.