Mechanisms of crosstalk between the oropharyngeal microbiome and human papillomavirus in oropharyngeal carcinogenesis: a mini review

Front Oncol. 2024 Aug 15:14:1425545. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1425545. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer globally. Notably, human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is on the rise, accounting for 70% of all OPSCC cases. Persistent high-risk HPV infection is linked to various cancers, but HPV infection alone is not sufficient to cause cancer. Advances in next-generation sequencing have improved our understanding of changes in the human microbiome of cancerous environments. Yet, there remains a dearth of knowledge on the impact of HPV-microbiome crosstalk in HPV-positive OPSCC. In this review, we examine what is known about the oropharyngeal microbiome and the compositional shifts in this microbiome in HPV-positive OPSCC. We also review potential mechanisms of crosstalk between HPV and specific microorganisms. Additional research is needed to understand these interactions and their roles on cancer development and progression.

Keywords: HPV; carcinogenesis; crosstalk; microbiome; oropharyngeal cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.