This research applies the 9 Bradford Hill criteria to the hypothesis that cancer is predominantly caused by chronic latent viral pathogens. The criteria are satisfied not once, but three times, with three independent series of evidence (Series A: direct; Series B: population; Series C: mechanistic), plus 5 reserve pieces of evidence and 1 causal pharmacological proof. Total: 34 peer-reviewed convergences. Formal statistical analysis — chi² = 847 (p < 0.0001), HR = 0.48 (p < 0.001), H = 10.8 (p = 0.013), U = 0 (p < 0.001) — demonstrates that the viral theory is statistically superior to the genetic, environmental and lifestyle theories. No alternative theory withstands statistical comparison. To refute this thesis one must demonstrate that at least 28 of the 34 pieces of evidence — all published in Lancet, JAMA, NEJM, Nature and Science — are wrong or misinterpreted.
Luciano Imbimbo (Thu,) studied this question.