DNA viruses have been implicated as etiologic agents in several human tumors. Evidence for a causative role exists for which of the following neoplasms?

a. Burkitt’s lymphoma

c. Cervical carcinoma

Three groups of DNA viruses have oncogenic strains. The papovaviruses include the papilloma, polyoma, and simian viruses, which induce tumors in animals. The second group is made up of adenoviruses, and the third group comprises the herpesviruses. Adenoviruses have been isolated from a variety of animal tumors; most of these are tumorigenic in newborn animals. An example of the herpesvirus group is the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which has been implicated in the etiologies  of Burkitt lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The World Health Organization has indicated that previous and continued exposure to EBV results in high titers of antibody to the virus capsid antigen and a 30-fold increase in risk compared with control populations.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is the etiologic agent of genital herpes. Infected women with early sexual activity and a large number of sexual partners have significantly increased risk for cervical carcinoma. Women with invasive carcinoma have antibodies to HSV-2, and about 40% of cervical biopsies with severe dysplasia or carcinoma display HSV-2-specific DNA-binding protein. A similar relation has been established for human papovavirus.