Daijiworld Media Network - UK

UK, Dec 4: UK researchers have identified a common childhood virus that may trigger DNA damage and increase the risk of bladder cancer in adulthood. The discovery, made by scientists at the University of York and published in Science Advances, highlights the BK virus a silent infection that typically remains dormant in the kidneys after childhood.

The BK virus usually shows no visible symptoms, but doctors have closely studied it through cases involving kidney transplant patients, who take immunosuppressants that can reactivate the virus. Researchers recreated similar conditions in laboratory studies using human urinary tract tissue, where they observed a concerning defense response from the body.

According to the team, enzymes deployed by the body to destroy the virus can accidentally cause harm to its own DNA a “friendly fire” effect that leads to dangerous mutations. This DNA damage was not only found in infected cells but also in nearby healthy cells, possibly explaining why most bladder cancers show no direct signs of the virus at the time of diagnosis.

Lead researcher Dr. Simon Baker explained that, unlike other virus-related cancers where the virus’s DNA merges with human genes, here the body’s own antiviral response becomes responsible for cancer-linked genetic changes.

Current efforts to prevent bladder cancer largely focus on discouraging smoking. However, scientists believe these findings could open new avenues for prevention by detecting and managing BK virus infections early in life, potentially lowering cancer risk later on.