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The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University
Harvard Integrated Life Sciences: HILS

May 8, 2008 Event Detail

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What is the Event
Title

Viruses and Cancer

Event Description

BBS Seminar

Event Type Seminar
Speaker Name

Peter Howley, Harvard Medical School
Karl Munger,Harvard Medical School,
James Decaprio, Harvard Medical School,
Fred Wang, Harvard Medical School

Speaker Affilation Harvard Medical School
Disciplines Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Required Fees N/A
Must RSVP

N/A

Contact Name Meg Bentley
Contact Phone N/A
Contact Email meg_bentley at hms.harvard.edu
Where and When  
Location

Room 122

Goldenson Building

Harvard Medical School Quad
77 Avenue Louis Pasteur

Boston, MA

Date May 8, 2008
Time
Start Time: 1:00pm End Time: 5:00pm
More Information  
Comments The theory that viruses contribute to the development of certain types of cancers was originally proposed by the Nobel winning scientist Peyton Roués in the early 20th century. Since then, both DNA and RNA viruses have been implicated in the development of colon, cervical, skin and liver cancers. Ultimately, viral infection can lead to the disruption of many cell cycle regulators, including pRb and p53. The mechanisms by which viruses are thought to promote carcinogenesis include insertion of viral proteins that disrupt normal host cell function and those that increase expression of proto-oncogenes. Lecturers will discuss current experimental efforts to identify the mechanisms by which HPV, EPV and SV40 viruses promote carcinogenesis and useful strategies for preventing viral infection and associated disease.