Program Objectives:

• Explore the diverse range of viruses implicated in human cancers.
• Analyze the mechanisms by which viruses contribute to cancer development.
• Discuss the current methods for diagnosing and monitoring viral-associated cancers.
• Evaluate the potential of antiviral therapies and vaccines in cancer prevention and treatment.
• Explore the burgeoning field of oncolytic virotherapy and its applications.
• Identify the ethical considerations surrounding the use of viruses in cancer therapy.

What you will learn?

Week 1: Introduction to Viral Oncology

• Overview of oncogenic viruses and mechanisms of transformation

• Key cancer-associated viruses: HPV, EBV, HBV, HCV, HTLV, KSHV

• Molecular basis of viral integration and genome instability

• Epidemiology and burden of virus-induced cancers

Week 2: Host–Virus Interactions and Oncogenesis

• Immune evasion, chronic inflammation, and tumor promotion

• Viral oncoproteins and disruption of tumor suppressors

• Cell signaling pathways hijacked by viruses

• Co-factors influencing viral carcinogenesis (co-infection, lifestyle, genetics)

Week 3: Diagnostics and Molecular Detection Technologies

• PCR, RT-PCR, ELISA, and in situ hybridization in viral cancer diagnostics

• Next-gen sequencing (NGS) and viral genome analysis

• Biomarker discovery and validation in virally driven cancers

• AI-powered image analysis and digital pathology in viral oncology

Week 4: Therapeutic and Preventive Strategies

• Antiviral therapies and targeted cancer treatments

• Vaccination and prophylaxis (e.g., HPV, HBV vaccines)

• Immunotherapy and virus-specific T-cell responses

• Future frontiers: CRISPR, oncolytic virotherapy, and precision oncology