Mission

Infection of a normal cell by a cancer virus can turn it into a cancer cell or make a low-grade cancer behave in a highly malignant fashion. There are 14 cancer viruses. These viruses can also infect the different cell types of the immune system, preventing the immune system from attacking the cancer. There are 23 publications that show antiviral drugs can improve outcomes in cancer patients, sometimes dramatically. RIVO’s first goal is to support using genomics to prove the infection of cancer by viruses. RIVO’s second goal is to support antiviral drug treatments of cancer. Antiviral drugs are relatively nontoxic and inexpensive. Adding antiviral drugs to standard management could improve efficacy. Improved efficacy could allow less intense standard therapy and lower toxicity.