Molecular Mechanisms of HPV-Induced Carcinogenesis

Dear Colleagues,

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections remain common among women globally despite the high effectiveness of both screening and prophylactic vaccination programs. Honoring the World Health Organization (WHO) action plan towards cervical cancer elimination by 2030, strategies combining extended vaccination coverage to more vulnerable populations with HPV-based screening programs are being expanded. Yet, there are research avenues that warrant scientific investigations. A deeper dive into the viral mechanisms leading to carcinogenesis can have an immediate significant impact on establishing clinical interventions to prevent HPV-induced cancer development after the onset of a persistent HPV infection. One particular area of clinical interest is the differentiation between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma; the latter shows an increase in incidence and faster disease progression, while gaps in knowledge are slowly being filled. High-risk papillomaviruses share in their biology the secrets to cancer development. Defining key molecular events occurring within HPV and its host is fundamental in resolving HPV infections leading to high-grade malignancies beyond cervical cancer. Growing our understanding of molecular mechanisms such as (i) viral integration, (ii) oncoprotein expression, (iii) host genomic instability, (iv) microbiome, (v) or cell cycle changes is key to better comprehending how these viruses play an active role in cancer development.

This Special Issue focuses on the biology of papillomaviruses and their oncogenic potential in developing cancer in humans. Original research articles, short communications, and reviews are all welcome for submission to this Special Issue.

Dr. Ana Gradissimo
Guest Editor

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• human papillomavirus
• cervical cancer
• adenocarcinoma
• carcinogenesis
• viral integration
• microbiome
• genomic instability
• next-generation sequencing
• new methodologies
• viral biomarkers
• molecular signatures