Human papillomavirus in cervical and head-and-neck cancer

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide and is initiated by infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs). High-risk HPVs, especially HPV-16, are associated with other anogenital cancers and a subgroup of head-and-neck cancers. Indeed, HPV infection could account for the development of head-and-neck cancer in certain individuals that lack the classical risk factors for this disease (tobacco and alcohol abuse). This Review summarizes the main events of the HPV life cycle, the functions of the viral proteins, and the implications of HPV infection on their hosts, with an emphasis on carcinogenic mechanisms and disease outcomes in head-and-neck cancer. The demonstration that HPVs have a role in human carcinogenesis has allowed the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the incidence and mortality of HPV-associated cancers.

Sequential induction chemotherapy followed by radical chemo-radiation in the treatment of locoregionally advanced head-and-neck cancer

“…This observation is important, because it is known that a subset of these tumours have a different aetiology (human papilloma virus (HPV) infection) and a better prognosis when compared with ordinary tobacco-and alcoholinduced cancers (Weinberger et al, 2006;Psyrri and DiMaio, 2008). However, this percentage of patients with oropharyngeal cancers is typical of other large treatment series, including the two recently published phase III trials of taxane-containing induction chemotherapy (Posner et al, 2007;Vermorken et al, 2007).…”

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: a Case-control Study in Wuhan, China

“…In recent years, HPV has been recognized as an independent risk factor for a subset of OSCC (Choi et al, 2008;Marur et al, 2010). More than 200 different human papillomavirus (HPVs) types have been characterized (Psyrri et al, 2008), and at least 40 types can infect human genital tract (Munoz et al, 2003), of which HPV16 and HPV18 as main high-risk types are more closely linked with malignant tumors. Recent study has shown that HPV genomes integrated in head and neck cancer express chimeric virus-cell mRNAs, which is similar to those found in cervical cancers (Lace et al, 2011).…”

“…HPVassociated OSCCs tend to be poorly differentiated with basaloid features in histology, frequently presenting at an advanced stage. Patients with HPV-positive OSCC often have an improved survival compared with HPV-negative OSCC patients (Fakhry et al, 2008;Psyrri et al, 2008;Pai et al, 2009;Gillison et al, 2012).…”

NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways collaboratively link inflammation to cancer

“…Infectious agents, such as Helicobactro pylori and Papillomaviruses, promote carcinogenesis (Psyrri and DiMaio, 2008;Marusawa and Chiba, 2010;Polk and Peek, 2010). Obesity, tobacco smoke and inflammatory bowel disease that act as non-infectious agents can also increase the risk of cancer development (Park et al, 2010).…”