Oncomodulatory mechanisms of human cytomegalovirus in gliomas

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a widespread beta-herpes virus, infects a high percentage of high grade gliomas. Although HCMV is not recognized as an oncogenic virus, it might increase the malignancy of the infected cell by disrupting cellular pathways involved in the cell cycle, apoptosis, angiogenesis, cell invasion and the host immune response. This article reviews the recent evidence of the modulatory effects of HCMV infection leading to the malignant progression of gliomas and explores novel therapeutic targets against such lethal tumors.