How can a cancer infectious disease develop?

People with chronic hepatitis B infection are more than 200 times more likely to develop liver cancer than uninfected people. Liver cirrhosis, whether from chronic viral hepatitis infection or alcohol abuse or some other cause, is independently associated with the development of liver cancer, and the combination of cirrhosis and viral hepatitis presents the highest risk of liver cancer development. read more

Other types of cancer that may be more likely to develop in people with HIV infection include: Anal cancer; Hodgkin disease; Lung cancer; Cancers of the mouth and throat; Some types of skin cancer; Liver cancer; Some other, less common types of cancer may also be more likely to develop in people with HIV. read more

Certain infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, can cause cancer or increase the risk that cancer will form. Some viruses can disrupt signaling that normally keeps cell growth and proliferation in check. Also, some infections weaken the immune system, making the body less able to fight off other cancer-causing infections. read more