Artikel Review: Potensi Vaksinasi terhadap Virus Herpes dalam Mencegah Kanker

Abstrak

Herpesviruses are DNA viruses within the order Herpesvirales that can establish lifelong latent infections and contribute to the development of certain cancers, particularly those caused by oncogenic viruses such as Epstein-Barr Virus and Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus. This article aims to review the classification and characteristics of herpesviruses, the mechanisms of oncogenesis mediated by latent infection, the types of cancers associated with these viruses, and the potential of vaccination as an infection-based cancer prevention strategy. Herpesvirus-mediated carcinogenesis involves the persistence of latent infection, activation of cell proliferation pathways, inhibition of apoptosis, epigenetic modifications, and immune evasion. Preliminary studies indicate that herpesvirus vaccines have the potential to induce both humoral and cellular immune responses, which could suppress infection and viral reactivation, thus holding promising prospects for reducing the future risk of virus-associated cancers.