Differential expression of host oncogenes in human papillomavirus-associated nasopharyngeal and cervical epithelial cancers - Original Article

Q: What was the main aim of the study?

To investigate the expression pattern of host oncogenes in HPV-associated cervical and nasopharyngeal epithelial cancers, focusing on AKT, IQGAP1, and MMP16.

Q: How was HPV status determined in the samples?

HPV was detected by PCR using MY09/GP5+/6+ primers in confirmed cancer biopsies and non-cancer tissues.

Q: Which markers showed higher expression in cancer tissues?

AKT and IQGAP1 proteins were highly expressed in epithelial cancers versus non-cancer tissues, and IQGAP1 and MMP16 mRNA levels were significantly higher in cancers than in non-cancer tissues.

Q: Did expression differ between HPV-positive and HPV-negative cancer biopsies?

The study reported no significant difference in oncoprotein expression levels between HPV-positive and HPV-negative cancer biopsies.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Valentina

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cervical and nasopharyngeal cancers show different molecular mechanisms in oncogenic processes, potentially reflecting differential oncoprotein expression. The study assessed host oncogene expression patterns using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from nasopharyngeal and cervical regions. Hematoxylin and eosin screening, HPV detection by PCR (MY09/GP5+/6+), immunohistochemistry for AKT, IQGAP1, and MMP16, and RT-qPCR for oncogene mRNA profiling were used across HPV-associated cancers and controls.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

HPV-associated vs HPV-independent cancers

PI3K/AKT pathway and AKT function

IQGAP1 as a signaling scaffold

DOI: 10.1002/kjm2.12880 O R IG INA L ARTI CLE Differential expression of host oncogenes in human papillomavirus-associated nasopharyngeal and cervical epithelial cancers Santa Sheila 1,2 | Brown Charles Adoquaye 2 | Akakpo Patrick Kafui 3,4 | Edusei Lawrence 4 | Hooper Andrew Richard 5,6 | Quaye Osbourne 1 | Tagoe Emmanuel Ayitey 2 1Department of Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology/West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana 3Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana 4Pathologists Without Borders, Accra, Ghana 5Department of Pathology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana 6Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana Correspondence Tagoe Emmanuel Ayitey, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box KB 143, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana. Email: [eatagoe@ug.edu.gh](eatagoe@ug.edu.gh) Funding information WACCBIP-World Bank ACE Masters/PhD Fellowship, Grant/Award Number: ACE02-WACCBIP: Awandare; WACCBIPWellcome Trust DELTAS PhD/postdoctoral Fellowship, Grant/Award Number: 107755/ Z/15/Z: Awandare Abstract Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cervical and nasopharyngeal cancers differ in molecular mechanisms underlying the oncogenic processes. The disparity may be attributed to differential expression of oncoproteins. The current study investigated the host oncogenes expression pattern in HPV-associated cervical and nasopharyngeal cancer. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues originating from the nasopharyngeal and cervical regions were screened using Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. Genomic DNA and total RNA were extracted from confirmed cancer biopsies and non-cancer tissues (NC) . HPV was detected by PCR using MY09/GP5+/6+ primers. Protein expression levels of AKT, IQGAP1, and MMP16 in HPV-infected cancers and controls were determined by immunohistochemistry. RT-qPCR was used to profile mRNAs of the oncogenes. AKT and IQGAP1 proteins were highly expressed in the epithelial cancers compared with the non-cancer tissues (p < 0 .05) . IQGAP1 and MMP16 mRNAs level was significantly higher in the cancers than in the NC (p < 0 .05), but not AKT mRNA levels. MMP16 protein was ubiquitously expressed in all tissues. AKT mRNA level was significantly elevated in CC compared with NPC (p < 0 .001) . However, the difference in AKT, IQGAP1 and MMP16 proteins level between CC and NPC was not significant (p > 0 .05) . The oncoproteins expression level between the HPV-positive and HPV-negative cancer biopsies showed no significant difference (p < 0 .05) . Current study reports AKT but not IQGAP1 and MMP16 mRNAs differentially expression in cervical and nasopharyngeal cancers, independent of HPV infection status. KEYWOR DS AKT, cervical cancer, IQGAP1, MMP16, nasopharyngeal cancer Santa Sheila and Brown Charles Adoquaye contributed equally to this study. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2024 The Author(s) . The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Kaohsiung Medical University. 1 | INTRODUCTION Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, and cervical andnasopharyngeal cancers are two of the commonest pathogenassociated cancers.1,2 Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been implicated in almost all cervical cancers, however, about 5% of cervical cancers are HPV-independent.3 Based on this, the 2020 WHO Classification of Female Genital Tumors subdivided cervical carcinomas into HPV-associated and HPV-independent tumors.4 HPV infection has been implicated in up to 35.2% of nasopharyngeal cancers; a subset of head and neck sq

FAQs

What was the main aim of the study?

To investigate the expression pattern of host oncogenes in HPV-associated cervical and nasopharyngeal epithelial cancers, focusing on AKT, IQGAP1, and MMP16.

How was HPV status determined in the samples?

HPV was detected by PCR using MY09/GP5+/6+ primers in confirmed cancer biopsies and non-cancer tissues.

Which markers showed higher expression in cancer tissues?

AKT and IQGAP1 proteins were highly expressed in epithelial cancers versus non-cancer tissues, and IQGAP1 and MMP16 mRNA levels were significantly higher in cancers than in non-cancer tissues.

Did expression differ between HPV-positive and HPV-negative cancer biopsies?

The study reported no significant difference in oncoprotein expression levels between HPV-positive and HPV-negative cancer biopsies.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Valentina