Latent human papillomavirus type 16 infection is widespread in patients with oropharyngeal cancers

Most oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers (OSCC) are caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs), primarily HPV16 [1]. HPVs also establish latent infections that can be activated to cause disease [2,3]. The immune system plays a key role in controlling or eliminating viral infections. However, HPVs can circumvent immune control, especially in susceptible patients [4] and patients with HPV-induced recurrent respiratory papillomatosis have a systemic immunologic failure to control latent reactivation [5].

Source: Oral Oncology - February 9, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Rong Wu, Francesca Paolini, Douglas Frank, Dev Kamdar, Gianfranca Curzio, Barbara Pichi, Raul Pellini, Giuseppe Spriano, Vincent R. Bonagura, Aldo Venuti, Bettie M. Steinberg Tags: Letter to the editor Source Type: research