Tentative Outline Special Issue for RECENT PATENTS ON BIOMARKERS Oncoviruses and oral cancer: An impending facts Kiran Jadhav Aims & Scope: Cancer causing viruses are termed oncoviruses, and it is of interest to learn more about them.. International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC) have termed many viruses as group I carcinogens. Viruses like human papilloma viruses (HPVs), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). Among the RNA viruses, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV- 1)- retrovirus are associated with human malignancies. Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are the sixth most common cancers worldwide, accounting for 633000 new cases annually. The etiology of HNSCC is considered to be a multifactorial. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are well established risk factors for HNSCCs. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) particularly subtype 16 has been proposed as risk factors in OSCC (Oral squamous cell carcinoma) development. Other oncogenic virus species i.e., Epstein Barr Virus and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 have also been proposed to be involved in oral carcinogenesis. Recent trends show that there is a decrease in incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma associated with the tobacco use and increase in the human papilloma virus associated with OSCC. EBV is associated with four types of cancers: Burkitt’s lymphoma (one of the most dreaded diseases in sub-Saharan Africa), Hodgkin’s lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (the most common tumor of males in southern China), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma associated with post-transplant or HIV Immunosuppression. Diseases associated with KSHV include Kaposi’s sarcoma (the most common malignancy affecting individuals with HIV/AIDS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and multicentric Castleman’s Disease (MCD) which, although not formally a malignancy, can evolve into one. It is estimated that 54% and 31% of the world total liver cancer cases are attributable to HBV and HCV infection, respectively Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) (a rare but highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin malignancy that affects elderly and immunosuppressed patients). HTLV-1 was the first identified human retrovirus isolated in 1980 and 1981 from American and Japanese patients suffering from adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). According to a new study from the Laboratory for Developmental Genetics at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a cause of the most common salivary gland cancers. Professor and lead author Michael Melnick said that CMV is an oncovirus came after an extensive study of human salivary gland tumors and salivary glands of postnatal mice. This minithematic issue in first topic will focus on how the world of oncoviruses was explored and how these viruses causing transformation of normal tissue to neoplastic tissue with discussion on current concepts. The second topic is mainly designed to reveal the role of HPV and oral squamous cell carcinoma. How single protein p16 is potential to cause oropharyngeal cancer will be discussed. Third topic deals with diagnostic approach towards oncoviruses especially HPV in oropharyngeal cancer. It will also encompass advanced techniques for diagnosis. Fourth topic is a totally new topic trying to bild relation between CMV and salivary gland tumors. Keywords Oncoviruses, oral cancer, biomarker, oropharyngeal cancer, cytomegalo virus, salivary gland tumors. Subtopics: Evolution and pathogenesis of oncoviruses associated with oral cancer: history and current concepts. p16 as a biomarker for HPV in oropharyngeal cancer Investigation of oncoviruses associated with oral cancer with an insight into diagnostic approaches Role of cytomegalo virus in salivary gland tumors: An unfolded mystery Schedule: September 2014. .