Signaling pathways in HPV-associated cancers and therapeutic implications

Abstract

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small double-stranded circular DNA viruses with 8 kb genomes. So far, more than 150 HPVs have been identified, and 12 types of HPVs have been conclusively linked to cancer by the International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization. Expression of HPV E5, E6 and E7 oncoproteins can alter multiple signaling pathways to cause cancer. In this review, the signaling pathways activated by these oncoproteins are summarized, and targeted therapy against key signaling molecules is described. E6 can inactivate tumor protein 53 and PDZ (post synaptic density protein-drosophila disk large tumor suppressor-zonula occludens-1 proteins) while stimulating phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), Wnt and Notch pathways. E7 can inhibit retinoblastoma protein and stimulate the PI3K/Akt pathway. Both E6 and E7 can deregulate cellular microRNA expression, which can alter cellular signaling pathways. E5 can sensitize epidermal growth factor receptor to epidermal growth factor to increase activation of PI3K/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. E5 can also inhibit the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. These altered signaling pathways could be critical for the initiation and maintenance of HPV-associated cancers. Therefore, targeted therapy against the key signaling molecules has therapeutic implications. Among these, the possibilities of targeting PI3K/Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin, epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor have been extensively studied in many cancers. Some inhibitors have been studied in cervical cancer in both animal models and clinical trials. Although the results are promising, further investigation is warranted.