Background. Race and ethnic disparities in cancer incidence rates and the prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) are known to exist in the United States (U.S.) but also across broad geographic expanses. The prevalence of CMV seems to inversely contrast rates of tumor incidence both in ethnic groups and globally. Is there a biological link between cancer and CMV infection? Methods. Global cancer data were retrieved from the World Health Organization (WHO) database. Incidence of cancer and CMV seroprevalence (73 countries) were subjected to Spearman’s correlation test. The Bayesian framework was adopted for CMV seropositivity variables. Cancer incidence and CMV pervasiveness in the U.S. were extracted from publications based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), 1988-2004. Results. An inversely directed coupling between cancer and CMV seropositivity across diverse ecologies and cultural domains suggest a global oncoprotective effect of the CMV (Spearman’s ρ = -0.732; p<0.001). Rates of all cancers combined and CMV seropositivity show an opposite association ( p<0.001) among the races and foremost U.S. ethnic groups. Conclusion. The racial/ethnic incidence of cancers and CMV seropositivity are inversely proportional both in the U.S. and globally. This would support a view that CMV is a potential driver against tumorigenesis. An absence of CMV infection abrogates protection against malignant clones afforded by the virus to an infected host. Abating CMV seroprevalence may relate causally to the buildup of malignancies in U.S. and the West world countries with thriving hygiene and healthcare systems.