PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Carbone, Antonino AU - De Paoli, Paolo TI - Cancers related to viral agents that have a direct role in carcinogenesis: pathological and diagnostic techniques AID - 10.1136/jclinpath-2012-200717 DP - 2012 Aug 01 TA - Journal of Clinical Pathology PG - 680--686 VI - 65 IP - 8 4099 - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/65/8/680.short 4100 - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/65/8/680.full SO - J Clin Pathol2012 Aug 01; 65 AB - The International Agency for Research on Cancer has recently reassessed the carcinogenicity of the biological agents classified as ‘carcinogenic to humans’. Among the biological agents having a direct role in carcinogenesis, Epstein-Barr virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus and human papillomavirus contribute to a variety of malignancies worldwide in humans including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, several types of lymphomas, genital tract carcinomas and Kaposi's sarcoma. The authors review the current knowledge on cancers that have been attributed to Epstein-Barr virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus and human papillomavirus looking at the pathological classification of these cancers and description of the implicated viruses, highlighting a wide range of pathological and virological diagnostic techniques. This review also focuses on the new oncological scenario ahead, once strategies against carcinogenic infectious agents are found to be effective.