The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 proteins as a risk factor for oesophageal cancer

Abstract

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major cancer in South Africa, affecting mainly black males. Several risk factors for OSCC have been reported but this study focuses on the role of human papilloma virus (HPV) in the development of OSCC. HPV is a well-known risk factor for cervical cancer resulting in its classification into low- and high-risk HPV types. The role of the different HPV types in OSCC development is not known, but in cervical cancer the critical HPV transforming gene has been shown to be E6. In this project, the effects of HPV11 E6, a low-risk type, and HPV18 E6, a high-risk type, were investigated by transfecting HPV-negative cell lines (EPC2-hTERT, MCF12A and Rat1) with HPV11 and HPV18 E6.