Recent advances in HPV biotechnology - understanding host-virus interactions and cancer progression - a review

Sep 21, 2026

Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer among women globally, carrying a major mortality burden. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is identified as the key trigger of cervical cancer, often occurring alongside viral coinfections that contribute to diverse malignancies. The review examines recent biotechnological advances in elucidating HPV infection dynamics, host interactions, and HPV-driven oncogenesis, including vaccination innovations, emerging nanotechnology and plant-based products, and the need for contemporary screening and therapy at clinical levels.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Global burden of cervical cancer

HPV classification and risk groups

Highlights

Vaccination strategies and emerging biotechnologies

Screening, therapy, and public awareness

’Review Article Recent advances in HPV biotechnology: understanding host-virus interactions and cancer progression – a review Saba Yousaf, MPhila , Anum Shehzadi, PhDb , Muhammad Ahmad, DVMc , Ahmad Asrar, MBBSd , Ishtiaq Ahmede , Haﬁz M. N. Iqbal, PhDf, Mohammed Hussen Bule, PhDg,* Abstract Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer among women globally, posing a signiﬁcant mortality risk. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary instigator of cervical cancer development, often alongside coinfection with other viruses, precipitating various malignancies. This study aimed to explore recent biotechnological advances in understanding HPV infection dynamics, host interactions, and its role in oncogenesis. The gathered data shed light on HPV biology, host-virus interplay, viral coinfections, and cellular transformations leading to HPV-associated cancers. Recent years have seen the introduction of diverse vaccination strategies, including live attenuated, subunit, and DNA-based vaccines, complemented by innovative nanotechnology and plant-based products. Despite rich data addressing research inquiries, urgent calls echo for the implementation of contemporary screening and therapeutic modalities at clinical levels. Moreover, extensive public awareness campaigns are imperative to alleviate the burden of HPV-related diseases, emphasizing the necessity for proactive intervention strategies in combating this global health challenge. Keywords: carcinogenesis, coinfection, Epstein–Barr virus, herpes simplex virus, host-interactions, immune response Introduction With an estimated 660 000 new cases in 2022, cervical cancer ranks fourth among cancers that affect women worldwide[1,2] . Approximately 94% of the 350 000 cervical cancer-related fatalities that year happened in countries with low or middle incomes. South-East Asia, Central America, and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have the greatest incidence and fatality rates of cervical cancer. The disparities in access to immunization, screening, and treatment facilities, risk factors like HIV aDepartment of Biochemistry, Enzyme Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, bDepartment of Biochemistry, Riphah International University, Faisalabad Campus, cInstitute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan, dFederal Medical College, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, eLa Trobe Rural Health School, Albury-Wodonga Campus, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia, fFacultad de Agronomía, Campus Ciencias Agropecuarias; Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, C.P., General Escobedo, Nuevo León, Mexico and gDepartment of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia Sponsorships or competing interests that maybe relevant to content are disclosed atthe end of this article. *Corresponding author. Address: Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia. [E-mail: mohammedbule@au.edu.et](E-mail: mohammedbule@au.edu.et) (M. Hussen Bule). Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. International Journal of Surgery (2024) 110:8025–8036 Received 20 April 2024; Accepted 29 September 2024 Published online 16 October 2024 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000002117](http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000002117) HIGHLIGHTS • High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary instigator of cervical cancer development. • Recent research has delved into HPV biology, ho

FAQs

What is the primary cause of cervical cancer development discussed in the review?

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is presented as the primary instigator of cervical cancer development.

How are HPV types organized in the review?

HPV is categorized into high-risk (HR-HPV) and low-risk (LR-HPV) variants, with HR-HPV including types such as 16 and 18 that are strongly linked to cancer.

Which interventions are emphasized besides research on host-virus interactions?

The review stresses implementing contemporary screening and therapeutic modalities at clinical levels, alongside public awareness campaigns and proactive intervention strategies.

Sep 21, 2026

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