Exploring infections as an aetiological agent of breast carcinoma

Abstract

Breast cancer currently enjoys the position of being the commonest cancer in females worldwide [1] and indeed in Sri Lanka. In 2005 breast cancer contributed to 14.3% of all cancers reported island wide and 25.4% of all female cancers [2]. Many aetiological factors have been discovered with a strong focus on hereditary forms of breast cancer [3]. However, these contribute only to 5-10% of breast cancers overall. Environmental, socio-economic, hormonal and radiation factors have also been shown to contribute to the aetiology. An emerging area of interest is the role of infectious agents in breast cancer aetiology. The global burden of infectious agents causing cancer is 16- 18% [4]. Most of these infection related cancers occur in developing countries and are due to treatable infections caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human Papilloma virus (HPV), Helicobacter pylori,Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV). The aim of this article is to give an overview of infectious agents linked to carcinomas and their association with breast cancer.