Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
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RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: March 11, 2014

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Human and viral whole genome sequencing identify HPV and APOBEC as oncogenic drivers in sinonasal squamous cell

Harrison B Chong, Michael E Bryan, Maoxuan Lin

    Medrxiv : the Preprint Server for Health Sciences
    |February 23, 2026
    PubMed

    Insights

    Human papillomavirus (HPV) drives sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) evolution, particularly through lesser-studied strains. Understanding these HPV-human interactions is crucial for advancing SNSCC diagnostics and treatment strategies.

    Area of Science:

    • Oncology
    • Virology
    • Genomics

    Background:

    • Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is an aggressive head and neck cancer with limited therapeutic progress.
    • While historically linked to environmental factors, SNSCC shows incidental association with human papillomavirus (HPV).
    • HPV is a known driver in oropharyngeal cancers, but its role in SNSCC is not fully understood.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the genomic footprint of HPV in SNSCC.
    • To identify the specific HPV strains involved in SNSCC oncogenesis.
    • To elucidate the mechanisms of host-virus interactions in SNSCC tumor evolution.

    Main Methods:

    • Paired host and viral whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of SNSCC tumors.
    • Analysis of viral integration patterns and host genomic alterations.
    • Identification of specific HPV strains and their association with extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA).

    Main Results:

    • HPV was confirmed as a primary oncogenic driver in SNSCC.
    • Lesser-studied HPV strains (e.g., HPV45, 51, 39) were identified as driver infections.
    • HPV integration into ecDNA and APOBEC mutagenesis were key mechanisms in tumor evolution.

    Conclusions:

    • HPV, including noncanonical strains, plays a significant role in SNSCC carcinogenesis.
    • HPV-human ecDNA amplicons are critical mediators of viral oncogenesis in SNSCC.
    • Current HPV diagnostic panels should be expanded to include lesser-studied strains for comprehensive SNSCC detection.

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