Klin Onkol 2025; 38(4): 254-263. DOI: 10.48095/ccko2025254.
Background: Human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) is a widely prevalent herpesvirus that typically remains asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals. However, in immunocompromised patients, it can cause severe clinical complications. In the context of cancer, hCMV exhibits oncomodulatory effects, influencing tumor growth, immune response, and treatment efficacy. Growing evidence suggests that therapeutic strategies targeting hCMV could improve cancer patient prognosis. Nevertheless, detecting this virus in tumor tissue or body fluids remains challenging, with results often varying depending on the methodology used and the type of sample analyzed. Aim: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the role of hCMV in cancer. It describes the hCMV genome and the functions of its key proteins, focusing on their involvement in oncomodulation. The study thoroughly examines the mechanisms of viral interactions with cellular signaling pathways, the effects of infection and reactivation on the clinical course of cancer, and pays special attention to the impact of hCMV on glioblastoma, including studies assessing the effectiveness of antiviral therapy. Furthermore, standard diagnostic methods, including immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and polymerase chain reaction, are discussed, along with the most commonly used commercially available diagnostic kits approved for clinical practice. The study concludes by summarizing the key challenges associated with hCMV diagnosis and treatment in oncology and explores future therapeutic approaches, including the development of dendritic cell vaccines.