Childhood Virus Linked to Bladder Cancer Risk, Study Reveals

Research Uncovers Link Between BK Virus and Bladder Cancer

New Delhi, Dec 4: A recent study conducted by researchers in the UK has identified a common childhood virus that may lead to DNA damage, increasing the risk of bladder cancer in later life.

The team from the University of York suggests that addressing this virus early on could pave the way for bladder cancer prevention.

Published in Science Advances, the research indicates that the BK virus, once contracted during childhood, typically remains inactive in the kidneys.

While BK virus infections often present no clear symptoms, medical professionals have gained insights into the virus through the experiences of kidney transplant patients who require immunosuppressive medications to protect their transplanted organs.

In laboratory experiments involving human urinary tract tissue, researchers noted DNA damage patterns resulting from the body's antiviral responses after controlled exposure to the BK virus.

This 'friendly fire' from enzymes intended to combat the virus can inadvertently harm the DNA of the cells themselves.

The findings support a hypothesis that the body's own response to BK virus infection may induce DNA mutations that could lead to cancer.

Dr. Simon Baker from the University stated, "In other virus-related cancers, such as cervical cancer, viral DNA integrates with our genetic material to promote tumor growth. Our findings indicate that in the bladder, the tissue's defensive reaction to the virus results in DNA alterations that may lead to cancer."

He further explained, "We discovered that DNA damage occurs not only in the infected cells but also in adjacent 'bystander cells' that observe the infection in their neighboring cells. This is significant as it may clarify why many bladder cancers show no evidence of the virus when diagnosed years later."

The BK virus typically remains dormant in the kidneys, but immunosuppressants can trigger its reactivation, potentially harming the kidneys, ureter, and bladder.

Current strategies for bladder cancer prevention focus on encouraging individuals to quit smoking. However, these new findings offer a promising avenue for bladder cancer prevention through early identification and management of the BK virus.