Identification of novel genomic hotspots and tumor-relevant genes via comprehensive analysis of HPV integration in Chinese patients of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer accounts for 10-15% of cancer-related mortality among women globally. Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types constitutes a significant etiological factor in the development of cervical carcinoma. The integration of HPV DNA into the host genome is considered a pivotal event in cervical carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms underlying HPV integration and its role in promoting cancer progression remain inadequately understood. Therefore, this study aims to identify potential common denominators at HPV DNA integration sites and to analyze the adjacent cellular sequences. We conducted whole-genome sequencing on 13 primary cervical cancer samples, employing the chromosomal coordinates of 537 breakpoints to assess the statistical overrepresentation of integration sites in relation to various chromatin features. Our analysis, which encompassed all chromosomes, identified several integration hotspots within the human genome, notably at 14q32.2, 10p15, and 2q37. Additionally, our findings indicated a preferential integration of HPV DNA into intragenic and gene-dense regions of human chromosomes. A substantial number of host cellular genes impacted by the integration sites were associated with cancer, including IKZF2, IL26, AHRR, and PDCD6. Furthermore, the cellular genes targeted by integration were enriched in tumor-related terms and pathways, as demonstrated by gene ontology and KEGG analysis. In conclusion, these findings enhance our understanding of HPV integration sites and provide deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of cervical carcinoma.