Norovirus in Cancer Patients: A Review

Divya Samantha Kondapi, Sasirekha Ramani, Mary K. Estes, Robert L. Atmar, Pablo C. Okhuysen

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of viral-related diarrhea in cancer patients, in whom it can be chronic, contributing to decreased quality of life, interruption of cancer care, malnutrition, and altered mucosal barrier function. Immunosuppressed cancer patients shed NoV for longer periods of time than immunocompetent hosts, favoring quasispecies development and emergence of novel NoV variants. While nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for NoV diagnosis have revolutionized our understanding of NoV burden of disease, not all NAATs provide information on viral load or infecting genotype. There is currently no effective antiviral or vaccine for chronic NoV infections. Screening for inhibitors of NoV replication in intestinal organoid culture models and creation of NoV-specific adoptive T cells are promising new strategies to develop treatments for chronic NoV in immunosuppressed patients. Herein we summarize data on the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic challenges, and treatment of NoV infection in patients with cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberofab126
JournalOpen Forum Infectious Diseases
Volume8
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2021

Keywords

  • calicivirus
  • cancer
  • chronic diarrhea
  • diarrhea
  • gastroenteritis
  • hematopoietic stem cell transplant
  • immunocompromised
  • norovirus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Infectious Diseases

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