Human Papillomavirus and Its Role in the Development of Cancer

INA SEVIC; LUCIA ROMANO; CAROLINA CRISTINA; LAURA ALANIZ

Human Viruses: Diseases, Treatments and Vaccines

Springer Nature

Año: 2021; p. 1 - 14

Tumor-associated immune microenvironment triggered by the infection with high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is well accepted today as one of the most important determinants for the development of HPV-related cervical cancer. HPV has developed different immune-evasion strategies that can escape the immune system and establish chronic infection leading to chronic inflammation. The immune response, even though it may abolish tumor, it may also further assist carcinogenesis by different signalling pathways. Even so, this is not enough for the development of the tumor. Viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 are actively involved in this process. They are known to be able to abolish cell cycle regulation,apoptosis and DNA repair systems and as a result aid the establishment of cancer. We discuss here the HPV life cycle and its involvement in the carcinogenesis process.