13th Feb 2012
Danny Rose ? all articles by this author
Viral link to colorectal cancer
A NEW theory is emerging that bovine viruses could be driving the global surge in colorectal cancer (CRC).
These viruses may survive mild cooking and then exert a silent but otherwise oncogenic effect on the human gut, researchers say.
German virologist Harald zur Hausen, who received a Nobel Prize in 2008 for discovering the link between HPV and cervical cancer, has reviewed the available evidence.
He points to the overlap between countries with rising beef consumption and CRC incidence ? particularly Japan and Korea, where ?undercooked? beef dishes are now popular and CRC rates have doubled since 1975.
Countries with rising consumption of well-cooked beef, such as Saudi Arabia, have not seen the same gains in CRC risk, he found.
?The global epidemiological pattern of CRC incidence justifies the consideration of a specific bovine factor as an important contributor,? Professor zur Hausen writes. ?Infectious agents, which upon transmission to humans, are likely to be replication-incompetent but potentially carcinogenic.?
Latent bovine infections may increase CRC risk in tandem with chemical carcinogens produced during beef processing and cooking, he said.
Meanwhile, in a separate study, researchers claim there is now more evidence to support a controversial link between Helicobacter pylori infection and elevated risk of CRC.
German researchers tested for H. pylori antibodies, plus another marker for the infection, in more than 1700 patients with incident CRC from 2003 to 2007. They found almost half (46.1%) showed signs of the infection compared to 40.1% in a control group.
However, gastroenterologist Clinical Associate Professor Peter Katelaris, from the University of Sydney, described the association as ?weak?.
Int J Cancer 2012; Am J Epidemiol 2012; online 31 Jan
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